User:Luisa Moura -Notes on Tutorial-

POVERTY | EXPLOITATION | IMAGE

“Tower David” photographs Ivan Baan “Enjoy Poverty” Renzo Martens “organic urbanism” P2P foundation

Favelas, occupied buildings, organic settlements of the most various kinds, appear to exert a tremendous attraction to architects, urban planners, photographers, artists. Artists might be looking for the depth of vulnerability, present in people that don’t have much choice, cannot protect their privacy and are willing to do a lot just to have a bit of attention and money. Does misery fascinates?

VOYEURISM

In the specific case of architecture and urban planning, all the studies being done on “organic settlements”, where are they heading to? What is actually being done with it? How much from it is commercial, voyeuristic value? In a contemporary practice lead by real estate agents, great investors and housing corporations, what is this humanistic knowledge used for? These settlements grow out of a deep governmental, sociological and economical void and get no support from any field of expertise while being built. Doesn’t it feel unethical to go over it later to dissect its smart, spontaneous growth? Intellectual and commercial value is being assigned to a field of research that raises sensitive social and economical issues, are those being addressed properly?

EMPATHY

Are these communities less marginalized since they became present on extensive studies, publications, workshops, art pieces? Is empathy being created between the normalized society and the segregated communities? Is this attention used to gentrify great potential areas for investment?