Monday, February 8, 2010

Riddles in Stone- Secret Architecture of Washington DC

When discussing art in the capitol, and in particular the development of Washington DC in last weeks class, it reminded me of a film I had heard about with regards to the design of America's capital city.
The documentary 'Riddles in Stone: Secret Architecture of Washington DC' was released in 2007, and explores the controversy and conspiracy theories over the design of the capital. Rather than believing that the city reflects America's new found freedom, some researchers maintain that occult architecture permeates the city and conceals a hidden secret agenda. It explores how the major cornerstones of the capital was laid by Freemasons, and so there is speculation as to whether the city was built in a Masonic pattern. Controversy is evident in the idea that the street layout, north of the white house, is shaped in the design of a pentagram. It also questions whether or not a Masonic square and compass extend from the Capitol building to the Washington Monument. This raises the question, that if America was founded upon the principles of Christanity, why does Washington DC appear to symbolize the Masonic Christ?
The documentary covers both sides of the debate surrounding the Washington DC street design conspiracy. I thought this was interesting in relation to Pierre Charles L'Enfant's original design of the city in 1791, and how his basic city structures could be (potentially) transformed into a different agenda.
I have included the trailer of the documentary below.

1 comment: