With his reference to the Citizen's United decision as an example Frampton mentions that the crisis of democracy imperils progress and the emancipatory "modern" architectural project. the crisis of democracy is fundamentally that crisis are accelerating faster than our ability to address them whether it be money in politics and oligarchy, inequality, dependence on fossil fuels and climate change, technological unemployment etc. As Frampton said it is up to the Architect to look reality in the face, something I entirely agree with due to our unique skill set. These are issues the vast majority of humanity not only tend to shy away from but issues that people are largely unequipped to either understand or propose solutions to. Most people are unable to grasp issues of any consequence, which is the crisis of democracy.
Hypermodernity and techno-idolatry... and the ongoing crisis in architecture and in democracy. Extremely interesting stuff - thank you Mr Frampton and thank you Arbucke Indstries.
twangbarfly Thanks for the comment! Please be sure to help spread this to anyone you think who would also enjoy his interview, the film or our other 30+ Extras Interviews!
I guess what he meant is that the innocence of modern optimism in technology has been annihilated since Hiroshima in WW2. The relationship between democracy and state institution was in crisis ever since. I like this interview too. However, I lost faith in BIG architecture and institutions and I think that 'architecture' can only function as a semi-private artifact for spiritual contemplation, like those secular buildings by Scapa, Zumthor and Botta.
Hiya thanks for the video he makes some really interesting points, could anyone elaborate on his point about Hiroshima and democracy and how this is changing things I didn't quite understand Thanks very much
Starryeyes I would say that you should follow up with Kenneth Frampton about this. You can likely reach him through Columbia University which is where he is a professor.
I think that he is referring to the naivety of the notion of unending progress, forever "onwards and upwards". The atom bomb represented the pinnacle of man's technological capacity at that point, but since then, technology can no longer be viewed uniquely as a force for the good, and any such notion must be tempered by the image of Hiroshima, otherwise it is simply a form of techno-idolatry", which Kenneth Frampton is here critcising. Well that's how I interpret it at any rate.... and I think it's an extremely important and interesting point. The political and scientific - and architectural - heritage of the European Enlightenment are currently in crisis. I suppose that Hiroshima is one symbol of that crisis that will never go away. He doesn't link Hiroshima directly with the current crisis in democracy, but suggests that the link is there. He simply goes on to say that a serious blow has been dealt to democracy via US legislation, and that as a result architecture - among many other things - will be in trouble.
I think he is also talking about technology generally in that it doesn't always lead to a positive outcome, a simple example in Architecture is Form vs Function, these days with our access to technology assuming infinite funds can build near any design we can imagine but Its no point designing a building to look like a transparent shard of glass for example without considering its use and the occupancy comfort and function within the building. We should design first for function and then create a form that suits the clients brief. That's my opinion at least.
Very nice too see him talking about the crisis of architecture in the larger context of society. Too many architects have tunnel vision
With his reference to the Citizen's United decision as an example Frampton mentions that the crisis of democracy imperils progress and the emancipatory "modern" architectural project. the crisis of democracy is fundamentally that crisis are accelerating faster than our ability to address them whether it be money in politics and oligarchy, inequality, dependence on fossil fuels and climate change, technological unemployment etc. As Frampton said it is up to the Architect to look reality in the face, something I entirely agree with due to our unique skill set. These are issues the vast majority of humanity not only tend to shy away from but issues that people are largely unequipped to either understand or propose solutions to. Most people are unable to grasp issues of any consequence, which is the crisis of democracy.
Hypermodernity and techno-idolatry... and the ongoing crisis in architecture and in democracy. Extremely interesting stuff - thank you Mr Frampton and thank you Arbucke Indstries.
twangbarfly Thanks for the comment! Please be sure to help spread this to anyone you think who would also enjoy his interview, the film or our other 30+ Extras Interviews!
Arbuckle Industries You can be sure that I will do just that!!! Thanks again!
Amazing job you did guys!
Andres Felipe Cañavera Herrera Thanks!
I guess what he meant is that the innocence of modern optimism in technology has been annihilated since Hiroshima in WW2. The relationship between democracy and state institution was in crisis ever since. I like this interview too.
However, I lost faith in BIG architecture and institutions and I think that 'architecture' can only function as a semi-private artifact for spiritual contemplation, like those secular buildings by Scapa, Zumthor and Botta.
Hiya thanks for the video he makes some really interesting points, could anyone elaborate on his point about Hiroshima and democracy and how this is changing things I didn't quite understand
Thanks very much
Starryeyes I would say that you should follow up with Kenneth Frampton about this. You can likely reach him through Columbia University which is where he is a professor.
I think that he is referring to the naivety of the notion of unending progress, forever "onwards and upwards". The atom bomb represented the pinnacle of man's technological capacity at that point, but since then, technology can no longer be viewed uniquely as a force for the good, and any such notion must be tempered by the image of Hiroshima, otherwise it is simply a form of techno-idolatry", which Kenneth Frampton is here critcising.
Well that's how I interpret it at any rate.... and I think it's an extremely important and interesting point. The political and scientific - and architectural - heritage of the European Enlightenment are currently in crisis. I suppose that Hiroshima is one symbol of that crisis that will never go away.
He doesn't link Hiroshima directly with the current crisis in democracy, but suggests that the link is there. He simply goes on to say that a serious blow has been dealt to democracy via US legislation, and that as a result architecture - among many other things - will be in trouble.
I think he is also talking about technology generally in that it doesn't always lead to a positive outcome, a simple example in Architecture is Form vs Function, these days with our access to technology assuming infinite funds can build near any design we can imagine but Its no point designing a building to look like a transparent shard of glass for example without considering its use and the occupancy comfort and function within the building. We should design first for function and then create a form that suits the clients brief. That's my opinion at least.