w2 follow up.

 

For follow up this week I'd like to return to the second question I asked in our conversation about Davis: the "architectural policing of space." Many of you understood this to mean the way spaces are designed to send subtle--and not-so-subtle--messages about who belongs in a space and who doesn't. It also creates environments that make certain groups feel comfortable and certain groups feel like they should move along.

California Plaza, Bunker Hill, Downtown L.A.

I'd like us to revisit this in preparation for our field trip on Wednesday to downtown L.A. Please identify at least one actual piece of design--whether a bench, a sprinkler system, a type of plaza design, or a parking garage design--that Davis sends messages. What about this design SPECIFICALLY (i.e. describe the design) sends which messages to which groups? How do you feel about inclusion/exclusion in public space? (If you already did this in the first post pick another design element from the reading.)

Also, please look up the definition of "criminalized poor." Hint: it doesn't mean poor people who are criminals! It has to do with treating low income people, particularly those of color, as criminals simply because of their economic bracket, where they live, and what they look like.