From Booklist
What does architecture tell us about gender roles? When Betsky gazes at a spire, tower, or skyscraper, he sees phallic forms that echo the male body. When he looks at building interiors, he sees reflections of the female body with its internalized reproductive organs and ability to contain and nurture life. These may seem like simplistic observations, but for Betsky, they are realities rich in implication and revelation. Buildings, from the simplest tents to the most elaborate cathedrals, are, after all, the anchors of culture, and their forms are indicative of social hierarchies, belief systems, values, and aesthetics. Betsky traces the evolution of Western architecture and urban design from the camps of nomadic peoples to the pyramids, the constructions of the Romans, medieval palaces, and, finally, modern industrialized cities and their suburbs. In each context, he compares and contrasts interiors and exteriors and connects their design to the strictly defined activities of men and women. Betsky's fluid and creative interpretations prove to be quite stimulating and enjoyable, enabling us to see our world from a fresh and illuminating perspective. Donna Seaman
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
