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Architectural Aesthetics
Architectural Aesthetics will trace the interdisciplinary history of philosophy, art and design of the built environment. We will begin at the turn of the eighteenth century to discuss how the Orders of columns established during the Renaissance are replaced by aesthetic judgment based on taste. Our readings will treat the emergence of a new rationale for Classical design as well as the rediscovery of gothic architecture. From the very start we will consider the debates between functionalism and ornamentation in Enlightenment architectural theory. Our discussion of twentieth century theory will establish continuities between High Modernism and the eighteenth-century neo-classicism. We will explore the connections between Bauhaus, mass culture and urban industrialization, as well as the critiques of Modernity by Theodor Adorno and Martin Heidegger. We will conclude with a discussion of architecture’s unique position with debates about Post-Modernist aesthetics. The readings will consist of an evenly balanced selection of architectural treatises and the major works of modern aesthetics. Students will gain an understanding of the history of aesthetic theory as it applies to architectural discussions. The course grade will be derived from class discussions, one twenty minute presentation, and a final twenty page research paper. Week One: Introduction How to define Aesthetics in Architecture? Week Two: Claude Perrault, Preface Ordonnance for the five kinds of Columns Rudolf Wittkower, Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism James Ackerman. Typology of the Villa Marc-Antoine Laugier, Essay on Architecture Wolfgang Hermann, Laugier and Eighteenth Century French Theory Week Three: Boullee, What is Architecture? Emil Kaufmann, Revolutionary Architecture Johann Wolfgang Goethe, On German Architecture Susan Bernstein, Goethe’s Architectonic Bildung and Buildings in Classical Weimar” Week Four: Immanuel Kant, Critique of Judgement Claudia Brodsky, “Architecture & Architectonics: The Art of Reason in Kant’s Critique” Week Five:Georg Hegel: Aesthetics Week Six:August Schmarsow, The Essence of Architectural Creation & Heinrich Wölfflin, Prolegomena to a Psychology of Architecture Week Seven: Adolf Loos: Ornament and Crime Adolf Behne, The Modern Functional Building Walter Gropius, The Architecture and the Bauhaus Le Corbusier, Towards a New Architecture Week Eight: The Flaneur and the glass facade Walter Benjamin, “TheWork of Art in theAge of Its Mechanical Reproducibility,” “Naples,” “Paris: Capital of the Nineteenth Century” Week Nine: Film and Cities Special Issue of Wide Angle 19.4 (1997) films: Berlin: Symphony of a City & Metropolis Week Ten: Martin Heidegger, “Building, Living, Thinking” Theodor Adorno, “Functionalism Today,” Week Eleven: Henri Lefebvre, The Production of Space Week Twelve: Postmodernism Andreas Huyssen, “Across the Great Divide” Jean-Francois Lyotard, “What is Post-modernism?” Frederic Jameson, “Post-Modernism, or The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism” Week Thirteen: New Urbanism -selected articles Rob Krier New Classicism Fritz Neumeyer, “Head first through the wall” Week Fourteen: Deconstruction Andreas Huyssen, “The Voids of Berlin” Daniel Libeskind, radix-matrix Week Fifteen: Summary Conclusion Excess |
Viennese Modernism
The end of the Habsburg monarchy was long in coming and it brought massive change to the people of Eastern Europe, yet the conflicts that tore the Empire apart continue to haunt Europe. The art of this period is commonly described as both decadent and Modern. We will explore what these terms might have in common. This course will cover the political, literary, artistic, architectural and linguistic complexity of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the decades before World War One. Following the example already set by historians, we will take a thoroughly inter-disciplinary approach to discussing the culture of late Habsburg Austria, We will consider the centrality of Vienna within the Empire, the status of minority languages in relation to German and the complex ethic alignments brought about by the historical compromises the dynasty made in order to preserve itself. We will devote considerable time to the history of the Empire during the nineteenth-century, in order to understand the complex relations between language groups. Language policy in particular will serve as an illustration of how imperial policy guided cultural relations. We will examine recent historical scholarship on the internal colonization of the Empire. Students will be asked to write weekly response papers as well as a final research paper. . Week One: Tuesday, Jan 13 Maps Thursday, Jan.15 Wien Reclam81-99,106-111; Janik & Toulmin, “Habsburg Vienna” Week Two: Tuesday, Jan. 20 Hugo von Hoffmannsthal, Das Marchen der 672. Nacht Thursday, Jan.22 Die Moderne, Reclam Week Three: Tuesday, Jan. 27 Arthur Schnitzler, Reigen Thursday, Jan 29 Das unrettbare Ich, Reclam Week Four: Tuesday, Feb.3 Arthur Schnitzler, Traumnovelle, Schorske Thursday, Feb.5 Arthur Schnitzler, Traumnovelle Week Five: Tuesday, Feb 10 Arthur Schnitzler, Fräulein Else Thursday, Feb 12 Carl Schorske, Ringstrasse 24-115 Week Six: Tuesday, Feb 17 Adolf Loos, Ornament & Verbrechen Thursday Feb 19 Gustav Klimt and the Vienna Seccession, Reclam 504-535, Schorske 208-277 Week Seven Tuesday, Feb 24 Franz Kafka, Der Prozess Deleuze & Guatari, Kafka Thursday Feb 26 Franz Kafka, Der Prozess Jiri Koralka, “The Czechs, 1840-1900,” The Formation of National Elites, pp. 77-103 Week Eight: Tuesday, March 2 Franz Kafka, Der Prozess; Slavoj Zizek, “Enjoy your Nation as Yourself” Thursday March 4 Franz Kafka, Der Prozess Week Nine: Tuesday, March 16 Joseph Roth, Kapuzinergruft ; Peter Wiesinger, “Nation und Sprache in Österreich,” Thursday, March 18 Joseph Roth, Kapuzinergruft; Peter Sugar,”The Nature of the non-Germanic societies under Habsburg Rule” Week Ten: Tuesday, March 23 Joseph Roth, Kapuzinergruft Tony Crowley, “For and Against Bakhtin” Thursday, March 25 Joseph Roth, Kapuzinergruft Week Eleven: Tuesday, March 30 Lou Andreas Salomé “Fenitschka” Thursday, April 1 Lou Andreas Salomé Week Twelve; Tuesday, April 6 Robert Musil, Mann ohne Eigenschaften Thursday, April 8 Robert Musil, Mann ohne Eigenschaften; Stefan Jonsson, “The Architecture of Modern Space” pp. 60-96 Week Thirteen to Fifteen: Robert Musil, Mann ohne Eigenschaften |
