A R C H I T E C T U R E AS

P O W E RT R I U M V I R A T E

steven j carlson syracuse university school of architecture

SUPPRESSION, REPRESSION, and REVOLUTION

THROUGH EXPLOITATION of ARCHITECTURE

architecture is a powerful el-ement of cultural exp¬ression, and a potent manifestation of cultural identity. therefore, it attracts the attention of the wardens of the world: the con-querors, the dictators, as a valuable asset to be manipulat-ed and altered for their ben-efit. throughout history, au-thoritarian regimes, conquerors, and dictators have exploited ar-chitecture as a tool in their quest to control and subdue their subjects. this architectural ex-ploitation has occurred over many levels; from planometric innova-tions on a small scale, inter-ventions upon existing constructs to demonstrate new ownership of a culture’s identity, and the con-struction of monumental buildings as an extension manifestation and symbol of a ruling group’s authority over a servant popu-lation; architecture has often been exploited by those in power, as a means of subduing recalci-trant populations. conversely, architecture has often been ex-ploited by recalcitrant popula-tions, as a means of throwing off the yoke of authoritarianism.

the 'triumvirate' of power through architecture:

1 prison architecture [pg.11]2 alteration of existing constructs [pg.19]3 authoritarian monumentality [pg.27]

1 prison architecture

2 alteration of existing constructs

3 authoritarian monumentality

architecture has a multifacet-ed, complex, and intertwined relationship with power strug-gles, social hierarchies, and control in society. it is in-arguable that architecture at a small scale can be used to control individuals, and the intentions of the designers of prisons are clear and legi-ble in the plans of oppres-sive domains on the scale of the prison. the deliberate and considered neutering of pre-existing architecture in recalcitrant regions was and is still used alongside invasion, forced religious conversion, and assimilation. the reading of architectural control in-tent becomes more complex and less clear as the discussion is shifted from this pragmatic scale, to the domain of the monumental and the cultural-ly significant; but what is clear, is that architecture's role in society and its symbolic nature carries with it great significance, which has been exploited to great effect by groups and people throughout the world and throughout history.

steven carlson syracuse university school of architectureARC134[Architecture's Global History] 12.09.2013

This work was created as a supplement to a semes-ter-long investigation of architecture's roll in a global historical context. Initial work investigat-ed architecture's role in the potential creation of a moon colony in the wake of newt gingrich's specula-tions during the 2012 pres-idential election. This led to an investigation of ar-chitecture's role in col-onization throughout his-tory, which was used as a springboard into this inves-tigation of architecture's role in control mechanisms.

newt gingrich <> coloniZation <> power&control

thanK you

image references:

[12] http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m64kxxkKid1r13gsho1_500.png[13]http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/books/review/the-panopticon-by-jenni-fagan.html[14]http://www.floriophoto.com/gallery/large/_mg_0925-copy.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Panopticon.jpg[15]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3181/2356362208_c8461c4a90_o.jpghttps://globalhistory.expressions.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2f57a11b50a77dafc8812c5e098db969.jpg[16]http://www.easternstate.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/esp_library_preview/library/BH06.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Eastern_State_Penitentiary_aerial_crop.jpg[17]http://queensransom.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/bastille.jpg[20]http://clipartist.info/clipart/pligg/JIVAMUKTA.COM/kattekrab_sitting_buddha_silhouette-999px.pnghttp://www.clker.com/cliparts/W/Z/C/u/0/6/kneeling-man-hi.png[21]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Bai_Chongxi_in_Wuhan.jpg[22]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Mexico_City,_Metropolitan_Cathedral,_Kodachrome_by_Chalmers_Butterfield.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Rekonstruktion_Tempelbezirk_von_Tenochtitlan_2_Templo_Mayor_3.jpg[23]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Sun_temple_martand_indogreek.jpghttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HeKhgyEcLKE/UVwbXYiz78I/AAAAAAAAN1A/s9bOwr_bzGA/s1600/martand_as_it_was.jpg[24]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Taller_Buddha_of_Bamiyan_before_and_after_destruction.jpg[25]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ce-8AMQlo6E/T0aikSWQILI/AAAAAAAAByY/Z69t1TUrdIc/s1600/Bastille+Day.jpghttp://mexfiles.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/a-la-bastille1.jpg[28]http://hermentorcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Fotolia-Family-Makeup-Silhouettes_35868587_Subscription_XXL.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Old_Town_Market_Place-Warsaw-Poland.JPG[29]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/PKiN_widziany_z_WFC.jpg[30]http://marxistleninist.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/stalin.pnghttp://globe-tourism.com/wp-content/gallery/palace-of-culture-and-science/pkin_warszawa.jpg[31]http://waithinktank.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/wai-think-tank_project-1984_1_sm.jpghttp://blog.gabrielsaldana.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/1984.jpg[32]http://movies.netflix.com/WiPlayer?movieid=70206672&trkid=13462100&t=The%2BHunger%2BGames&tctx=-99%2C-99%2Cae-9fa082-b060-480d-b093-c54d71d1ae64-3725175http://static1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130308181010/thehungergames/images/e/e7/Snow_Portrait.jpg[33]http://news.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/architecturehereandthere/hitlerspeer.jpg

ORIGINAL DIAGRAMS: pgs. 20,21, 28, 29

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: https://globalhistory.expressions.syr.edu/architecture-as-power-triumvirate/

ALSO BY THE AUTHOR, IN COLLABORATION WITH ANGELA COPES:“GOODNIGHT MOON, GOODNIGHT GINGRICH”

https://globalhistory.expressions.syr.edu/goodnight-moon-goodnight-gingrich/ “COLONIAL HYBRIDIzATION IN ARCHITECTURE”

https://globalhistory.expressions.syr.edu/colonial-hybridiZation-in-architecture/