Nolan Brennan
English 1030-44
Mr. Frank
8 September 2014
The inherent ability of humans to assume the role of author is often disputed. In contemporary society, everyone has the ability to express themselves through various modes of technology. People often only recognize these modern methods and the traditional methods of physical writing as the true forms of authorship. But, authors can be found within almost every facet of life. A prime example of unconventional authors would be those in the field of architecture. Architecture is an ancient practice, one that has transitioned from functionality into an art form. Architecture, as a mode of authorship, allows architects to physically express their inner thoughts and emotions.
There is a plethora of parallels that can be drawn between conventional forms of authorship and the world of architecture. Similar to traditional authorship, architecture gives the “creator” the opportunity to mold the abstract into a physical form. Writers in the normal sense display their ideas through pen and paper. Architects use their buildings to transmit their thoughts into the physical world. Architecture is driven by the creation of an idea and those underlying ideas give true meaning to the building (Frederick 14). Both writing and architecture began in a similar fashion. Language and architecture sprouted from necessity. Language was needed to properly communicate between peoples. In a different sense, architecture was used primarily for functionality. The earliest structures were basic and lacked ornamental value, yet architecture was used to ensure that the structure was properly built. As literature and art are further compared to architecture, one must notice that all of them hope to evoke a response from the viewer or reader. Their ability to do so is yet another parallel between conventions and architecture. Writing and architecture have also developed in the same manner. Buildings today, due to advances in materials and technology, have become complex canvases for architects to freely represent their ideas. Essentially, architecture and other conventional forms of authoring are symmetrical yet architecture branches off into a more different aspect of creative expression.
Despite the similarities, architecture as a form of authorship is rather unique compared to the traditional ways of being an author. Conventional authors can be characterized as a writer or artist. Unlike these forms, architecture has a completely different purpose. Matthew Frederick states that there are two different viewpoints of architecture. The first, is that architecture is an exercise in truth, meaning that the building itself is an honest representation of its purpose and its materials in respect to the world as a whole. The second, is that architecture is an exercise in narrative which describes that it is a mode for the designer to tell a story about society or everyday life (84). Besides a different purpose, the final product of an architectural design, the building, is much larger than that of literature and art. Although architecture shares many similarities with other forms of creative expression that are conventional forms of authorship, it differs from them in its overall purpose and final product.
Another way in which architects can be pictured as authors is present in their attempt to capture the cultural, social, or political context of their respective era within their designs. Within the architecture world there exists a word, zeitgeist, to describe the sensibilities of a select age of time. Zeitgeist is a German word that translates into “the spirit of the age”. According to Matthew Frederick, this entails the prevailing ethos of an era, the general mood of its people, tenor of public discourse, flavor of daily life, and the intellectual inclinations and biases that underlie human endeavor (83). Zeitgeist is present within art, architecture, literature religion, and science. As a whole, this term describes that the creators of such works in architecture, art, literature, etc. are inspired by their surroundings which has an ultimate effect upon them and their work. Specifically within architecture, all designs attempt to express the zeitgeist. As Louis Sullivan stated, “A proper building grows naturally, logically, and poetically out of all its conditions” (Frederick 30). This idea of representing the “spirit of the age” exhibits that architects are truly authoring a work that will make a statement about themselves and the world in which they live.
By examining some architects, one can easily see that zeitgeist is palpable within their work, therefore making them an author within the world of architecture. Architects during the renaissance age properly captured the time’s obsessions with classical revival. A renaissance architect, Brunelleschi, is well known for his work on the dome of the Florence Cathedral. Within this cathedral and many of his others, he instituted the columns originally from the classical or Greek age of architecture. In modern architecture, which spanned the early twentieth century, Ludwig Mies emphasized the communion of technology and architecture. Following the Second World War, the world experienced a science and technology boom, specifically within the decades of the Cold War. People of this era placed heaving emphasis on the importance of technology. This emphasis is easily visible in Mies’ and many other modernist architects’ work. For Mies, the union of technology and architecture would create a new form of architecture that was appropriate for the demands of the 20th century. His strong belief in this relationship is apparent as Mies said, "our real hope is that they grow together, that someday one will be the expression of the other..." (Mertins 71). Three buildings by Mies, the Esters House, the Lange House, and the German Pavilion, all demonstrate the usage of technology through his iconic large glass panels and the steel frame (74). Throughout the history of architecture, architects have let the conditions of their contemporary society influence their work, resulting in the creation of a new style of architecture.
Some people in modern society believe that not everyone possesses the capability to be an author. Yet, the opportunities to be an author are infinite. Every aspect of life contains some type of mode of authorship, one must look past the accepted forms of authoring. One of these unique forms of authoring is architecture. This industry is not a mere job, instead architects are given the freedom to express themselves and their respective social or cultural climate in their buildings. Architects often use the term zeitgeist to describe their efforts of portraying society within their designs. Throughout history, different architects have left their mark by using their social surroundings to bring architecture into an entirely new era of exploration and creativity. Overall, architecture is an opportunity for humanity to assume the role of an author by expressing themselves in a physical manifestation of their abstract ideas and feelings.
Works Cited
Frederick, Matthew. 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2007. Print.
Mertins, Detlef, and George Baird. The Presence of Mies. New York: Princeton Architectural, 1994. Print.
English 1030-44
Mr. Frank
8 September 2014
The inherent ability of humans to assume the role of author is often disputed. In contemporary society, everyone has the ability to express themselves through various modes of technology. People often only recognize these modern methods and the traditional methods of physical writing as the true forms of authorship. But, authors can be found within almost every facet of life. A prime example of unconventional authors would be those in the field of architecture. Architecture is an ancient practice, one that has transitioned from functionality into an art form. Architecture, as a mode of authorship, allows architects to physically express their inner thoughts and emotions.
There is a plethora of parallels that can be drawn between conventional forms of authorship and the world of architecture. Similar to traditional authorship, architecture gives the “creator” the opportunity to mold the abstract into a physical form. Writers in the normal sense display their ideas through pen and paper. Architects use their buildings to transmit their thoughts into the physical world. Architecture is driven by the creation of an idea and those underlying ideas give true meaning to the building (Frederick 14). Both writing and architecture began in a similar fashion. Language and architecture sprouted from necessity. Language was needed to properly communicate between peoples. In a different sense, architecture was used primarily for functionality. The earliest structures were basic and lacked ornamental value, yet architecture was used to ensure that the structure was properly built. As literature and art are further compared to architecture, one must notice that all of them hope to evoke a response from the viewer or reader. Their ability to do so is yet another parallel between conventions and architecture. Writing and architecture have also developed in the same manner. Buildings today, due to advances in materials and technology, have become complex canvases for architects to freely represent their ideas. Essentially, architecture and other conventional forms of authoring are symmetrical yet architecture branches off into a more different aspect of creative expression.
Despite the similarities, architecture as a form of authorship is rather unique compared to the traditional ways of being an author. Conventional authors can be characterized as a writer or artist. Unlike these forms, architecture has a completely different purpose. Matthew Frederick states that there are two different viewpoints of architecture. The first, is that architecture is an exercise in truth, meaning that the building itself is an honest representation of its purpose and its materials in respect to the world as a whole. The second, is that architecture is an exercise in narrative which describes that it is a mode for the designer to tell a story about society or everyday life (84). Besides a different purpose, the final product of an architectural design, the building, is much larger than that of literature and art. Although architecture shares many similarities with other forms of creative expression that are conventional forms of authorship, it differs from them in its overall purpose and final product.
Another way in which architects can be pictured as authors is present in their attempt to capture the cultural, social, or political context of their respective era within their designs. Within the architecture world there exists a word, zeitgeist, to describe the sensibilities of a select age of time. Zeitgeist is a German word that translates into “the spirit of the age”. According to Matthew Frederick, this entails the prevailing ethos of an era, the general mood of its people, tenor of public discourse, flavor of daily life, and the intellectual inclinations and biases that underlie human endeavor (83). Zeitgeist is present within art, architecture, literature religion, and science. As a whole, this term describes that the creators of such works in architecture, art, literature, etc. are inspired by their surroundings which has an ultimate effect upon them and their work. Specifically within architecture, all designs attempt to express the zeitgeist. As Louis Sullivan stated, “A proper building grows naturally, logically, and poetically out of all its conditions” (Frederick 30). This idea of representing the “spirit of the age” exhibits that architects are truly authoring a work that will make a statement about themselves and the world in which they live.
By examining some architects, one can easily see that zeitgeist is palpable within their work, therefore making them an author within the world of architecture. Architects during the renaissance age properly captured the time’s obsessions with classical revival. A renaissance architect, Brunelleschi, is well known for his work on the dome of the Florence Cathedral. Within this cathedral and many of his others, he instituted the columns originally from the classical or Greek age of architecture. In modern architecture, which spanned the early twentieth century, Ludwig Mies emphasized the communion of technology and architecture. Following the Second World War, the world experienced a science and technology boom, specifically within the decades of the Cold War. People of this era placed heaving emphasis on the importance of technology. This emphasis is easily visible in Mies’ and many other modernist architects’ work. For Mies, the union of technology and architecture would create a new form of architecture that was appropriate for the demands of the 20th century. His strong belief in this relationship is apparent as Mies said, "our real hope is that they grow together, that someday one will be the expression of the other..." (Mertins 71). Three buildings by Mies, the Esters House, the Lange House, and the German Pavilion, all demonstrate the usage of technology through his iconic large glass panels and the steel frame (74). Throughout the history of architecture, architects have let the conditions of their contemporary society influence their work, resulting in the creation of a new style of architecture.
Some people in modern society believe that not everyone possesses the capability to be an author. Yet, the opportunities to be an author are infinite. Every aspect of life contains some type of mode of authorship, one must look past the accepted forms of authoring. One of these unique forms of authoring is architecture. This industry is not a mere job, instead architects are given the freedom to express themselves and their respective social or cultural climate in their buildings. Architects often use the term zeitgeist to describe their efforts of portraying society within their designs. Throughout history, different architects have left their mark by using their social surroundings to bring architecture into an entirely new era of exploration and creativity. Overall, architecture is an opportunity for humanity to assume the role of an author by expressing themselves in a physical manifestation of their abstract ideas and feelings.
Works Cited
Frederick, Matthew. 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2007. Print.
Mertins, Detlef, and George Baird. The Presence of Mies. New York: Princeton Architectural, 1994. Print.