In this week's comments update, readers are debating whether Dezeen's story on the founder of Forensic Architecture, Eyal Weizman, being prevented from entering the United States is relevant for an architecture and design magazine.
Political agenda: some commenters questioned Dezeen's decision to report that Eyal Weizman, founder of Forensic Architecture, was prevented from entering the United States ahead of his exhibition exploring the "arbitrary logic of the border". Not everyone felt that Weizman's ESTA being retracted ? due to an alert triggered by an algorithm ? was a design story.
"Certainly not an architecture or design related story. What's it doing here"" asked Alfred Hitchcock. "Is Dezeen now a political journal"" "The algorithm has been designed by someone," replied Think. "What to include and what not to include in the algorithm's design is a political decision. Design is almost always political."
Geof Bob agreed: "As a subject, forensic architecture certainly is related to architecture and design, as it uses many of the same techniques ? mapping, modelling, animation, VR ? in gathering evidence of and investigating alleged human rights violations. Moreover, as with any media outlet, it's for the editor to determine what comes within its scope."
"For those who do not see a political dimension to architecture and their role as designers in that ecosystem, there is plenty of literature ...