Sensory Occupation: The Aesthetic and Political Dimensions of State Control
The deliberate manipulation of sensory experiences, through aesthetics and public displays, can be a powerful tool for asserting and maintaining political control.
The British Journal of Criminology · 2016
Key Findings
- 01Sensory technologies are used to manage bodies, language, sight, time, and space.
- 02Public performances and symbolic expressions (slogans, graffiti) are key tools in this sensory occupation.
- 03The lived sensory experience of the colonized reveals the political violence embedded in these practices.
Application
Design takeaway
Be mindful of how aesthetic and sensory elements in your designs can influence user perception and potentially contribute to broader social or political contexts.
How to apply
When designing public installations, urban planning elements, or even user interfaces, consider the sensory impact beyond immediate functionality and assess potential unintended consequences.
Project actions
- 01Consider the sensory experience of your user beyond just visual appeal.
- 02Think about how your design might be perceived or used by different groups.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a novel framework for understanding design's role in power dynamics.
- +Integrates aesthetic and political analysis effectively.
Limitations
It can be difficult to isolate the exact sensory elements responsible for a particular effect, and user responses can be highly individual.
Reliability & validity
The findings are based on qualitative interpretation and may be subject to researcher bias. Validity is enhanced by triangulating different forms of evidence (observations, textual analysis).
Think critically
To what extent can designers be held responsible for the unintended political or social consequences of the sensory experiences their designs create?
Design Principles
"The design of public space and sensory experiences carries inherent political weight and can be leveraged for control."
Understanding how sensory elements are employed in design and public spaces can reveal underlying power dynamics and influence user perception. This insight is crucial for designers aiming to create inclusive and ethically considered environments, as well as for analyzing existing designs that may inadvertently or intentionally shape user experience through sensory means.
What This Means for Your Design
Designers can use sights, sounds, and feelings to influence how people think and behave, sometimes to control them.
How to use in your project
- 1.Analyze how existing designs in your chosen context use sensory elements to influence users.
- 2.Discuss the ethical implications of sensory design in your project's context.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2016). The Occupation of the Senses: The Prosthetic and Aesthetic of State Terror. The British Journal of Criminology. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azw066 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/9aa92180-888e-4873-8b13-26fde65cb5df/sensory-occupation-the-aesthetic-and-political-dimensions-of-state-control
Paragraph starter
The research highlights how the deliberate manipulation of sensory experiences through aesthetic choices and public displays can serve as a powerful mechanism for asserting political control and shaping user perception within a given environment.
Source
The British Journal of Criminology
The Occupation of the Senses: The Prosthetic and Aesthetic of State Terror
journal · 2016
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about sensory occupation: the aesthetic and political dimensions of state control?
- Be mindful of how aesthetic and sensory elements in your designs can influence user perception and potentially contribute to broader social or political contexts. Evidence: The British Journal of Criminology (2016).
- Why does "Sensory Occupation: The Aesthetic and Political Dimensions of State Control" matter for design?
- Understanding how sensory elements are employed in design and public spaces can reveal underlying power dynamics and influence user perception. This insight is crucial for designers aiming to create inclusive and ethically considered environments, as well as for analyzing existing designs that may inadvertently or intentionally shape user experience through sensory means.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Be mindful of how aesthetic and sensory elements in your designs can influence user perception and potentially contribute to broader social or political contexts.
- What were the main findings?
- Sensory technologies are used to manage bodies, language, sight, time, and space.. Public performances and symbolic expressions (slogans, graffiti) are key tools in this sensory occupation.. The lived sensory experience of the colonized reveals the political violence embedded in these practices.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative analysis of public performances, symbolic language, and lived sensory experiences..
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2016 journal from The British Journal of Criminology.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing public installations, urban planning elements, or even user interfaces, consider the sensory impact beyond immediate functionality and assess potential unintended consequences.
- What are the limitations?
- The study is highly context-specific to a particular geopolitical situation and may not be directly generalizable to all design contexts.
- Is there evidence that public spaces affects design outcomes?
- The study found that controlling what people see, hear, and feel in public spaces, through organized events and symbolic messaging, is a method of political control. Understanding how sensory elements are employed in design and public spaces can reveal underlying power dynamics and influence user perception. This insig Source: The British Journal of Criminology (2016).
- Where does this sensory elements research apply?
- Urban public spaces under state control, specifically occupied East Jerusalem. It sits within classic design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
public spaces design research · evidence on public spaces · does public spaces improve design outcomes · sensory elements studies for designers · public spaces and sensory elements findings · classic design research evidence