Paths to Prison - On the Architecture of Carcerality

Architecture plays a crucial role in shaping the conditions of daily life, which disproportionately affect communities of color. Angela Y. Davis' book "Paths to Prison: On the Architectures of Carcerality" explores how architecture contributes to the carceral state and implicates it in the legacy of racialized coercion in the United States. The book offers a reevaluating of the architecture of carceral society and methodologies for undoing it.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 416 pages
\n Publication date: 07 September 2020
\n Publisher: Columbia Books on Architecture and the City
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The "path to prison," which disproportionately affects communities of color, is primarily shaped by the conditions of daily life. As Angela Y. Davis suggests, architecture plays a crucial role in shaping these conditions, as it is fundamental to shaping the civil existence of individuals and communities. In light of this, Paths to Prison: On the Architectures of Carcerality seeks to broaden our understanding of the relationship between architecture and the carceral state.

The book's collected essays argue that architecture is implicated in the enduring legacies of racialized coercion in the United States. It posits that to understand the violence enacted by the prison in the present, we must shift our epistemological frame to places, discourses, and narratives that are often considered outside the realm of incarceration.

Rather than providing a fixed or predetermined account of how things are, Paths to Prison offers a range of starting points and methodologies for reevaluating the architecture of carceral society and ultimately dismantling it. The contributions by various authors in the book provide diverse perspectives and approaches to understanding the role of architecture in perpetuating carcerality.

One of the key themes explored in the book is the spatialization of carcerality. Authors argue that the design and organization of prisons, jails, and other carceral institutions create a distinct spatial environment that reinforces the power and control of the state over individuals. They highlight how the architecture of these spaces contributes to the dehumanization and marginalization of prisoners, as well as the perpetuation of racial and social inequalities.

Another important aspect of the book is the relationship between architecture and surveillance. Authors discuss how the architecture of carceral institutions facilitates the monitoring and control of prisoners, as well as the broader community. They explore how surveillance technologies, such as cameras, sensors, and biometric identification systems, are integrated into the design of these spaces, and how they contribute to the erosion of privacy and individual freedom.

The book also examines the role of architecture in perpetuating the carceral logic, which views imprisonment as a solution to social problems rather than a reflection of them. Authors argue that the architecture of carceral institutions reinforces the notion that certain groups of people are inherently criminal and deserving of punishment, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and biases.

In addition to these themes, Paths to Prison: On the Architectures of Carcerality also explores the potential for architectural interventions to challenge and transform carceral systems. Authors suggest that architects can play a critical role in designing spaces that promote human dignity, social justice, and rehabilitation. They highlight examples of innovative architectural projects that have aimed to reduce the impact of carcerality, such as community-based alternatives to incarceration and restorative justice programs.

Overall, Paths to Prison: On the Architectures of Carcerality is a thought-provoking and important book that sheds light on the complex relationship between architecture and the carceral state. It offers a critical analysis of the ways in which the built environment contributes to the perpetuation of carcerality and provides a framework for reimagining and transforming carceral systems. By expanding our understanding of the role of architecture in shaping the conditions of civil existence, this book contributes to the ongoing conversation about the abolition of the carceral state and the pursuit of a more just and equitable society.

\n Weight: 538g\n
Dimension: 132 x 196 x 34 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781941332665\n \n