Blame the Capitlaists

Blame the Capitalists:

Harvey talks a great deal about the role capital plays in society. And unfortunately, America has fallen into a trap in which its Urban cores are addicted to the capitalist game of growing for a profit; which has ultimately led to unrest and protest in cities throughout the country. But what is the role of the architect in this whole discussion? Are we to be blamed for developing and aiding in the rapid urbanization that inflated housing prices? Is it our fault that tensions grow between the upper class (typically white) and the lower class (typically minority) because of the modern towers we built to store the economically challenged?

If capitalism is naturally pushing economically disadvantaged people out, then why can’t we accept that? Not everyone is ever going to be equal (financially), and in an economy that pushes people to achieve success through their own determination, there will always be division and competition. But what if we didn’t fight the effect caused by capitalist urbanization and attempted to address the effect? Would it be more successful to adapt to the situation than to try and change to deeply rooted means of business/power that governs our society?

Rebellions are possible (or were possible), but we’ve reached a time in which a real uprising would include countless fatalities, something that the American people fear too much. Either do something worthwhile or stop whining.

Blame the modernists:

After reading “It’s the Architect’s Fault” I was quite surprised that Vanstiphout somehow managed to blame to 2005 Paris riots on LeCorbusier. This was not actually his direct claim, but in a roundabout way, he was able to say that modernization caused the uprisings. I felt humored and annoyed by this, but then again, it strengthened by belief that people are always looking for a way out, an excuse.

If we can blame another entity for our situation, someone or something other than ourselves and our decisions, then we will always have a reason to be angry and dissatisfied...this is something humans have actually mastered.

I don’t believe we have any hand in this and that we are also victims of the economic trap that strangles urban society. The issues we see in cities are rooted much deeper than the hands of the architect. To assume our role has a major influence on society's political happiness does seem a little egotistical. The political situation is 100% to blame for the issues in this country. Architects are trapped in the sense that we design what we are commissioned to design, we build the buildings that we are paid to build, and we adapt to the current political situation so that we can survive. 

Would we Blame the Socialists?

I may have missed the mark on understanding these readings, but it seems as though a social agenda is being pushed. Do architects thrive in social cultures? If there was no class warfare and capital did not have power, how would it affect architects? Wouldn’t we essentially be giving complete power of design and growth to the government?