The Biggest Problem with Public Mob Judgement
MeToo hits Architecture
Just last week, the architectural/design world was struck with the biggest piece of scandal in decades - living legend Richard Meier has been accused of “sexual misconduct” towards 5 female current and former employees.
This hits right at home for me, as well as most of my close friends, as Meier is an alum of my exact undergraduate program. He is one of the most prolific, recognizable, and impactful designers of our generation and one of the emblematic progenitors of the term “Starchitect.” A now, with the rise of the #MeToo movement, it seems he has been struck by the trend’s attachment to the field of design.
And merely a few days after the initial reporting by the New York Times, Dean of the Cornell School of Architecture, Art, and Planning sent out a formal address to the entire alumni network that it would be rescinding their latest honor to Meier (arguably the most famous and most successful Cornell architect) and blocking any further donations from him.
I’ve linked the original article and it isn’t difficult to find a cascade of re-reports on most design blogs through Google so I won’t go into all the details. Simple put, Meier has reportedly exposed himself to a number of employees (through a bathrobe) and in a few instances inappropriately touched and encouraged sexual activity. His last transgression was in 2009 and culminated in a $150,000 settlement and office-wide harassment training. Immediately following the public report last week, the firm principal stepped down for a “6-month leave.”
A Culture of Pre-Consequential Consequence
To be honest, it isn’t surprising that the #MeToo agenda has targeted the creative fields. Architecture in particular is built upon the super egoism of revered figures, hence ridiculous terms like “Starchitects” whose tablecloth sketches supposedly cause whole cities to transform. Most principals are men, and men + competition + ego usually leads to some unsavory moments and characters. It’s definitely time to have a conversation and it’s absolutely a problem that we need to figure out within the profession.
But the actions of Cornell’s AAP Dean is not in response to these goals. No, the swift banning of Meier and his contributions are motivated by the true maker of waves these days - the fear of being attacked by the mob.
Let’s be clear, Meier was accused publicly and officially only 7 days ago. No proof, no legal process, no official statements by any of the accusers, and no actual determination of guilt (whatever this man could legally be guilty of). This is judgement by mob and action in the face of a mob.
I’m not claiming that these transgressions are all falsehoods. I myself have heard personal stories of friends who worked in Meier’s office that these are probably true accusations. But regardless, the fallout that has occurred just because of a few fingers pointed is a disconcerting reality. It is not real justice, only signaled justice in the fear of being tied to the accused.
If Meier is proven to be a “transgressor,” then we have a real discussion of his actions in relation to his legacy. After he is proven guilty of whatever crime, we can weigh in on his fate. But the way media is playing into this, it is nothing more than public slander.
Real Ethical Dilemmas in the Profession
Another major depressing factor is that this is only coming out, despite the supposed lineage of Meier’s misconduct, because of the Hollywood social movement of MeToo and TimesUp. Architecture suffers from very problematic and systemic issues like overworked/underpaid internship structures and the abuse/deaths of migrant workers for absurd buildings. Yet, we’re only able to grapple with these must-change realities after Rose McGowan does her public circuit? Or after other celebrities have tweeted up a mob? There’s a lot of dirt on the profession’s face and we refuse to look in the mirror until someone else has held the mirror up to us.
Those are my reactions. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Kinda hard to know what to do with these things, anymore.
Seems like there's a lot of retroactive witch hunting going on, these days. I don't say that as ANY type of kindness towards sexual misconduct, but to reflect on a greater social movement trend in which people become "angry villagers with pitchforks" at a much greater rate than ever... and I wonder what it will mean for the future of society.
I am seeing some of this show up in one of the fields my wife works with: Self-development and consciousness. Again, a field where a certain amount of "guru worship" happens... but now we're seeing (mostly) young women "accuse" their teachers because they actually could NOT "get favors" from the teacher, which is making the whole industry skittish.
Now, if we back out and take a much broader view, what implications will this have for society; for politicians? Will you be "ineligible" unless you are "squeaky clean?" Will me move towards a place where our public "heroes" are almost saintly and monastic in their lifestyles?
Thanks for the striking questions @reddragonfly. These are all tremendously important conversations to have.
First, judgement by anachronism is ethically wrong. Context plays an enormous, if not holistic, impact on a person's decisions. To judge based on 1 or 2 factors taken out of context is the most irresponsible way to condemn any person. By this logic, which unfortunately runs rampant in today's western society, we should tear down the campus of UVA because Thomas Jefferson was a slave owner. Or we should remove all the faces of presidents on our currency because they promoted implicit "patriarchy." I did a recent post on Dr. Seuss as well who drew "offensive" political cartoons of dictators that the free world was at war with at the time. We are undermining historicism and as a result, the acknowledgement of societal development.
On the second point, that's why accusations should hold absolutely no weight without some evidence. Not a single person in this world is "squeaky clean" when the person sitting across from you is wholly dedicated to smearing your name.
Wow awesome
Hard decision to make. But like an old saying: "lose money lose nothing, lose health lose something, and lose character lose everything. All necessarily correction have to be made to recover the disturbed condition..good point..
If anything, the #metoo movement shows people that they can be held responsible for their misconduct regardless of their 'star' positions. I remember reading about Richard Meier and going 'oh, wow. It's reached Architecture now'.
I think the way that the profession works - highly intense work environments, the pressure to deliver, the fear of being replaced by another - is so conducive to physical, mental and emotional harassment and abuse at the workplace. I don't have enough fingers on my two hands to count the stories of friends who've had breakdowns because of being in the profession.
There's so much truth in your last line: there’s a lot of dirt on the profession’s face and we refuse to look in the mirror until someone else has held the mirror up to us. Would love to see you bring some of these up in future posts :)
I absolutely will, thanks @manouche!
Specifically on this type of abuse (because I think any type of transgression should be tackled one by one, not in some "opening dialogue"), we have to decide what "misconduct" is and what the repercussions are. In this case, Meier actually paid an enormous fine and revamped office policy in response to his last reported offense. This type of journalism and social uproar is looking for something much more beyond than just accountability.
And finally, yes, I definitely agree that context is an absolute factor that is so conveniently left out too often.