This critical MacGuffin address a contemporary issue of low living standards and poor human conditions present in Pentonville prison, London, where extreme violence and overcrowded cells are predominant.
Pentonville prison was built in 1840-1842 in the London borough of Islington, as an only male prison, and later declared as « the most dramatic example of failure » within the prison estates by the justice secretary of that time, Michael Gove. (1)
However, when walking by the Pentonville prison, one can admire a pride flag floating on its roof.
As it is important to address ethical dilemmas and question norms in design, I wondered if, as the LGBT flag suggests, Pentonville prison is raising awareness and manifesting a genuine transition for the carceral institution, or if this is just another example of pink washing? (2)
From this misappropriation comes the minimization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equality fights.
1. Ruth McKeen, Police catch second Pentonville prison escaper, UK, The Guardian, 2016.
2. Pinkwashing is a term used to describe the exploitation of gay-related issues positively to disguise deeper negative actions by an organization, country, or government.
Pentonville prison was built in 1840-1842 in the London borough of Islington, as an only male prison, and later declared as « the most dramatic example of failure » within the prison estates by the justice secretary of that time, Michael Gove. (1)
However, when walking by the Pentonville prison, one can admire a pride flag floating on its roof.
As it is important to address ethical dilemmas and question norms in design, I wondered if, as the LGBT flag suggests, Pentonville prison is raising awareness and manifesting a genuine transition for the carceral institution, or if this is just another example of pink washing? (2)
From this misappropriation comes the minimization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equality fights.
1. Ruth McKeen, Police catch second Pentonville prison escaper, UK, The Guardian, 2016.
2. Pinkwashing is a term used to describe the exploitation of gay-related issues positively to disguise deeper negative actions by an organization, country, or government.