Dark Space: Architecture, Representation, Black Identity

by Mario Gooden

This collection of essays by architect Mario Gooden investigates the construction of African American identity and representation through the medium of architecture. These five texts move between history, theory, and criticism to explore a discourse of critical spatial practice engaged in the constant reshaping of the African Diaspora. African American cultural institutions designed and constructed in recent years often rely on cultural stereotypes, metaphors, and clichés to communicate significance, demonstrating "Africanisms" through form and symbolism―but there is a far richer and more complex heritage to be explored. Presented here is a series of questions that interrogate and illuminate other narratives of "African American architecture," and reveal compelling ways of translating the philosophical idea of the African Diaspora's experience into space.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2015

Reviews

[Mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing, short read! Would have been a 5 but I was confused on some arguments (which is my bad) so really more of a 4.5/4.75.

The book explores how Black identity can be defined through space, problematizes stereotypes and Afro-centrism in architecture, and observes how the Othering of the Black body and Black sexuality manifests in spatial design.

The book can be enjoyed by anyone, but a background knowledge of modernist/avant-garde movements and historical frameworks makes the book more effective. Gooden cites Foucault frequently across chapters (which makes sense as Gooden focuses a lot on power-relationships and the use of space as a tool of asserting or subverting authority), and a basic understanding of the ideals/motives/works of Le Corb, Loos, and even Mies van der Rohe is useful! That being said, I'm just an undergrad student so my own knowledge of these architects is limited.

[Anais · Rating 4 out of 5]

short book, but very dense.

enjoyed the cross disciplinary dialogue of architecture, art, critical race theory, history, and psychology.

not at all what I expected, and I will have to go back to fully grasp some things.

[Hollie Sikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

an incredibly dense but excellent analysis of art and design through a racial lens, particularly as it relates to personal and interpersonal perception and identity. absolutely soaked this up and cant wait for a reread after letting myself chew on it for a bit. highly recommend