Architectures of Spectacle and Control: The Beijing National Stadium and its Implicit Political Agendas

Abstract

The Beijing Olympics of 2008 is one of the clearest examples of architecture performing as global spectacle. Often regarded as China's "coming out party," the 2008 Olympics were used to proliferate a global image of a new, modernized Chinese nation. It sought to establish an image of power through spectacle, as seen in the highly visible architecture of the National Stadium, the meticulous detail of the Opening Ceremony, and the stadium's unique placement in the urban fabric of Beijing. Yet what was especially unique about the 2008 Olympics was the way that spectacular architecture acted simultaneously as a hyper-visible media presence and also a dominating force that silently influenced human body behavior. In addition to architectural organization, the Beijing Olympics sought to create a new form of architecture: the architecture of the mass organized body. This thesis seeks to investigate the role of architectural spectacle in society through the case study of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It will analyze the ability for spectacular architecture not only to create a global image of power, but also to assert a uniform control over the body in space. Investigating the architectural qualities of the Beijing National Stadium in 2008, I will analyze how architecture's organizational qualities are directly intertwined with political motivations. This thesis will argue for correlation between Olympic sport, political governance, technology, and bodily discipline.