Towards a Critique of Architecture's Contemporaneity - 4 Essays (Hardcover)

Pursuing historical analogies between nineteenth-century theories and the current practices captivated by digital reproducibility, this book offers a critical take on architecture's contemporaneity through four essays: tectonics, materiality, cladding, and labor. Fundamental to this proposition is the historicity of Gottfried Semper's theorization of architecture amidst the outpouring of new materials and construction techniques during the 1850s. Starting with Semper's differentiation between theatricalization and the tectonic of theatricality, this book closely examines thematic essential to architecture's self-representation. Even though the title of this book recalls the Semperian four elements of architecture, its argument encapsulates a unique historico-theoretical project probing the tectonic of theatricality beyond Semper. The invisible tie between technique and labor is the cord running through the four subjects covered in this book. In exploring these subjects from the theoretical standpoint of Marxian dialectics, this book's contribution is focused on, but not limited to, the topicality of labor today when its relationship with capital has been further obscured by the prevailing digitalization of commodity exchange value, starting roughly in the 1990s. Each essay examines Semper's theorization of architecture in contradistinction to the ways in which technology's mediation has dominated architecture's representation. Burrowing through the invisible tie between technique and work, asymptomatic of architecture's predicament in global capitalism, this book advances the scope of architectural criticism beyond the exhausted formalism and architecture's turn to philosophy circa the 1980s and the present tendencies for presentism. It will therefore be of interest to researchers and students of architectural history and theory.

General

Imprint:	Taylor & Francis
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	2023
First published:	2023
Authors:	Gevork Hartoonian
Dimensions:	216 x 138mm (L x W)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	160
ISBN-13:	978-1-03-241868-1
Categories:	Books > Arts & Architecture > History of art / art & design styles > General Books > Arts & Architecture > Architecture > Theory of architecture Books > Business & Economics > Economics > General Books > Earth & environment > The environment > General Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Social & political philosophy Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political ideologies > Marxism & Communism Books > Business & Economics > Industry & industrial studies > Construction & heavy industry > Construction industry Books > Professional & Technical > Civil engineering, surveying & building > Building construction & materials > General Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Social & political philosophy Promotions
LSN:	1-03-241868-0
Barcode:	9781032418681

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