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Re: End of Modernism 1999 |
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The following is an excerpt from a www.skewarch.com discussion page in 1999:
From: Omid Armanzad Comments What do you all think about end of Modenism? Has the Modern age ended or not? Can it solve our problems today? Can Post-Modernism help us?
From: rated@arbld.unimelb.edu.au Comments its better left un-earthed
From: route_82 Comments why?
From: rated@arbld.unimelb.edu.au Comments my point was that there is no reason for bringing up this topic since it is like discussing religions
From: mcalvino@ij.net Comments It is not at all like discussion religions because movements like Modernism, Po-mo-ism, de-con-ism, etc., etc, are conceptual, theoretical ideas that are particular to a certain time. Religion is a timeless issue. Architecture, as religion is, should strive to be timeless. This means that the architect develops theories and methods of practicing his/her art that are based on timeless concepts. Timeless issues and a thought process that strives to be timeless is able to bridge generations and societies. It also provides a vehicle for addressing and problems in current society whatever the "time"is. Many of the ideas and ideals held by the modernists were timeless and were concerned with issues that were not about themsleves or about making a mark for themsleves, but for advancing society. Modernism more than the other "-isms" of the past began to look for truths in making. Gravity is a truth . . . it will not go away. Today, no-one should claim to be a "modernist".
From: john.langley@hok.com Comments It is entirely possible for someone today to call themselves a Modernist. While issues of a machine aesthetic may seem dated because as the term implies, they are about aesthetics; other modern issues about plastic space, truth in materials, dissolution of the wall, and most importantly, capturing the spirit of our |
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age are as relvant now as in their inception. Now that's what I call timeless. The Zeitgeist of today may be shifting away from industries reliant upon natural resources, toward information based systems, but expressing that spirit is still a "Modern" endeavor. Besides Mike, I know you call yourself a Modernist when you think no one is looking. It's time to come out of the closet and embrace your modern heritage.
Re: End of Modernism From: mcalvino@ij.net Comments Now this is begining to get interesting . . . as you say, "other modern issues about plastic space, truth in materials, dissolution of the wall, and most importantly, capturing the spirit of our age are as relvant now as in their inception." These issues do not belong to modernism but are timeless issues that are relevant to any "time". Today, one who calls himself a modernist is really part of some other "-ist" that probably has not yet been "labelled" as one yet. And if this artist, architect, etc. is developing ideas that are ever striving to be about timeless issues and not trying to be part of an "-ism" then and only then may the person begin to rise above the fashions of the times. Oh, and where does the "machine aesthetic" fit into all this? While work within "-isms" may look similar, it is the theories that make something part of that "-ism" . . . the ideas at the begining of the "thing" not the result of the thing after it has been completed. --Calvino
From: john.langley@hok.com Comments I don't beleive the theory and the thing are seperate or at least they shouldn't be. Maybe it's that they should point to each other. I'll agree that the issues previously discussed are timeless because they address theories and procedures that will always be valid for as long as people build. But calling them "Modern" or their proponents "Modernists" merely points to their heritage and is as valid a label as Human, person, or Mike. The Label is only a label yet serves as a valid indetifier or starting point if you will. I'd be willing to bet Mike, that if you look at the tag on the back of your shirt, the label will read "Essentialist". John
From: mcalvino@ij.net Comments Well said John. -Calvino |