Architecture Quote by Mark Wigley
““The first treatise on the interior of the body, which is to say, the treatise that gave the body an interior , written by Henri De Mondeville in the fourteenth century, argues that the body is a house, the house of the soul, which like any house can only be maintained as such by constant surveillance of its openings. The woman’s body is seen as an inadequate enclosure because its boundaries are convoluted. While it is made of the same material as a man’s body, it has ben turned inside out. Her house has been disordered, leaving its walls full of openings. Consequently, she must always occupy a second house, a building to protect her soul. Gradually this sense of vulnerability to the exterior was extended to all bodies which were then subjected to a kind of supervision traditionally given to the woman. The classical argument about her lack of self-control had been generalized.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Unknown medieval medical text, 14th century
The body is likened to a house for the soul, with women portrayed as having a vulnerable, disorderly interior requiring constant surveillance
In simple terms: The body is a house for the soul, women seen as vulnerable and needing extra protection
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gendered narratives about bodily control
Themes
feminism
architecture
body
surveillance
gender
vulnerability
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
historical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- medical theory
- gender studies
- architectural theory
- social critique
Key Concepts
embodied cognition
social construct
patriarchal discourse
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this metaphor shape perceptions of gender?
- What alternatives exist to this view?
A Different Perspective
The claim may oversimplify complex historical contexts and ignore agency
