Fall 2013 Time TR – 4:15-5:30 p.m.
ARCH 400 Architecture as Power, Politics, and Propaganda
Instructor: Kristin Barry E-Mail:
[email protected] Phone: TBD Office: TBD Office Hours: TBD
Overview
Required Readings
Throughout history and across the world, architecture has been used as a propagandistic tool to intentionally communicate ideas of power and politics, creating a social narrative that revolves around physical and theoretical construction and destruction. Architecture has a way of influencing viewers as well as being influenced by the political aspirations of those intent on using design to prove a point. Often, the same location is used during multiple historical epochs for the express purpose of illustrating ideas of politics and power.
There is no textbook for the course. Instead, there will be weekly required readings that will be available to you on ANGEL.
This course is divided into 8 thematic sections and will examine that role of architecture plays in the expression of power, the influence of politics, and the practice of propaganda, beginning with our earliest roots as a society and continuing into the modern practice of building. In each section, we will discuss a different building or city, each constructed or destructed for the purpose of propaganda, emphasizing both the ancient use of the building/city, and the modern use. Although the main focus will be on architecture in general, the following additional concepts will be discussed in detail:
***Dates to
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Architecture and funerary monuments The construction and destruction of religious architecture Architecture and Colonialism Skyscrapers and increasing building height Monuments that express international/world connections The architecture of war
Remember September 20, 2013
Research Project Proposal November 15, 2013
Research Project Presentations begin December TBD
Research Paper Due
There are assigned readings for each week to supplement the lectures and provide a scholarly background for the architecture that you will be seeing. The class will follow a lecture format with ample discussion and should be thought of as a dialogue between the professor and students, where students are encouraged to use critical thought and participate.
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Expectations and Requirements I feel that it is important to outline my expectations for you at the beginning of the course. I expect my students to work hard, pay attention, and strive to do the best that they can with the material. In order to be successful in and gain as much as possible from this course, you should meet the following expectations/requirements: Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes. I will not take attendance, so it is your responsibility to make sure that you are in class and on time. Being late could cause you to miss important information. Participation: You are expected to participate in class discussions, take notes, and come to class prepared to learn. It is your responsibility to be attentive during lectures and to take sufficient notes, as these will help you on the exams and in writing your research paper. Deadlines: You are expected to submit all assignments on time and in full, as well as attend all exams. ANGEL and Email: You are expected to follow the outline included in this syllabus and keep up-to-date on class announcements via ANGEL and email. Please make sure to check your university email account and ANGEL at least once a week. Student Conduct: You are REQUIRED to show respect for your fellow classmates during discussions and lectures. Academic Integrity: You are REQUIRED to show academic integrity in all discussions and assignments in accordance with the Penn State Department of Architecture Academic Integrity Policy (https://artsandarchitecture.psu.edu/students/acad_integrity). Any cheating, plagiarism, or similar violations will not be tolerated, and will be submitted to the University. Please note that the BEST thing that could happen if you cheat or plagiarize is to fail the assignment and possibly the course. The University reserves that right to remove you entirely if you do not show academic integrity.
Evaluation You will be graded using the following scale: A (93-100%) A- (90-92%) B+ (87-89%) B (83-86%) B- (80-82%) C+ (77-79%) C (70-76%) D (60-69%) F (59% and lower) Research Project: You are required to do a research project, based on extensive research, and exhibiting original thought to be presented beginning November 15, 2013. The project can encompass anything that Research Presentation – 40% sparks your interest about the material that we are studying; you can choose to design a building the exhibits the properties of power, politics, Research Paper – 40% and propaganda that we cover in class, or you can simple research an existing building exhibiting these same qualities. You are required to Class Participation – 20% submit a proposal to me (due September 20, 2013) for approval during a one-on-one meeting. The final project will be presented to your classmates and me. Each presentation should last 20-30 minutes an include both research and visuals for your work.
**Grading Breakdown**
Research Paper: As part of your research project, you are requirement to write a 6-8 page research paper that shows your ability to analyze the current discourse surrounding visual culture for the purposes of
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architectural propaganda. The subject of the paper will be the same subject as your project, but will demonstrate your knowledge of the current theory and literature of the field. Although you may use your required readings as references, this is considered an academic research project, so you should have multiple book and article sources outside of what is assigned in class. Please make sure to edit your work for typos and content—this is a relatively short paper and you should be direct with your statements to make sure that you include pertinent information. We will discuss the Research Project and Paper in-depth during class, but please note that any project turned in late will be automatically reduced by 5% for each late day. Department of Architecture’s Academic Integrity Statement Academic integrity is a fundamental principle underlying all scholarly work, and a necessity for the creation of an honest and positive learning environment. Accordingly, adherence to the basic precepts of academic integrity is expected in all student work. The dishonest representation of someone else’s work as your own (i.e. cheating, plagiarism) will not be tolerated, nor will acts of deception or falsification. Acknowledgment in your written work of information, points of view, and quotes taken from other sources should always be made through appropriate references (i.e. footnotes, bibliography). Violations of academic integrity will be dealt with in accordance with the policies of the University. Students with Disabilities Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact the Office for Disability Services, ODS located in room 116 Boucke Building at 814-863-1807(V/TTY). For further information regarding ODS, please visit their web site at www.equity.psu.edu/ods/ For any student wishing to have accommodation, please notify me as early in the semester as possible regarding the need for reasonable academic adjustments. Schedule of Readings The following schedule is flexible, allowing us to spend more time on subjects of interest to you. I will announce any changes in class. Students are responsible for knowing what changes have been made and for keeping up with the readings, which should be completed by the Monday of the week that they are assigned, with the exception of the first week of classes. Part 1 – Introduction – Architecture as Power, Politics, and Propaganda Readings: 1. David Lock, “The Propaganda of the Built Environment,” RSA Journal, Vol. 139, No. 5419 (June 1991), pp. 455-466 2. Felicity D. Scott, “On Architecture under Capitalism,” Grey Room, No. 6 (Winter 2002), pp. 44-65 3. Bruce G. Trigger, “Monumental Architecture: A Thermodynamic Explanation of Symbolic Behaviour,” World Archaeology, Vol. 22, No. 2, Monuments and the Monumental (Oct 1990), pp. 119-132
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Part 2 – Pyramids of Power – Egypt and Visual Culture Readings: 1. Mitch Rose, “The Problem of Power and the Politics of Landscape: Stopping the Greater Cairo Ring Road,” Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, New Series, Col. 32, No. 4 (Oct. 2007), pp. 460-476. 2. William H. Walker and Michael Brian Schiffer, “The Materiality of Social Power: The Artifact-Acquisition Perspective,” Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, Vol. 13, No. 2 (June 2006), pp. 67-88. 3. Toby A. H. Wilkinson, “What a King Is This: Narmer and the Concept of the Ruler,” The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology,” Vol. 86 (2000), pp. 23-32 Part 3 – Architecture and War – Persia and Greece Readings: 1. Rachel Kousser, “Destruction and Memory on the Athenian Acropolis,” The Art Bulletin, Vol. 91, No. 3 (September 2009), pp. 263-282 2. Polly Low, “Remembering War in Fifth-Century Greece: Ideologies, Societies, and Commemoration beyond Democratic Athens,” World Archaeology, Vol. 35, No. 1, The Social Commemoration of Warfare (June 2003), pp. 98-111 3. Marc van de Mieroop, “Reading Babylon,” American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 107, No. 2 (April 2003), pp. 257-275 4.
James Romm, “From Babylon to Baghdad: Teaching Alexander after 9/11,” The Classical World, Vol. 100, No. 4 (Summer 2007), pp. 431-435
Part 4 – Imperialism, Nazis, and Architecture – Rome Readings: 1. Suna Guven, “Displaying the Res Gestae of Augustus: A Monument of Imperial Image for All,” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 57, No. 1 (March 1998), pp. 30-45 2. Diane Farvo, “Pater Urbis: Augustus as City Father of Rome,” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 51, No. 1 (March 1992), pp. 61-84 3. Joshua Hagen, “Parades, Public Space, and Propaganda: The Nazi Culture Parades in Munich,” Geografiska Annaler. Series B, Human Geography , Vol. 90, No. 4 (2008), pp. 349-367 4. David Welch, “Nazi Propaganda and the Volksgemeinschaft: Constructing a People's Community,” Journal of Contemporary History , Vol. 39, No. 2, Understanding Nazi Germany (Apr., 2004), pp. 213238 5. Tony Ward, “Totalitarianism, Architecture and Conscience,” Journal of Architectural Education (19471974) , Vol. 24, No. 4 (Autumn, 1970), pp. 35-49
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Part 5 – The Architecture of Opulence – France Readings: 1. David L. Dowd, “Art as National Propaganda in the French Revolution,” The Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Autumn 1951), pp. 532-546 2. Barbara Coeyman, “Social Dance in the 1668 Feste de Versailles: Architecture and Performance Context,” Vol. 26, No. 2 (May 1998), pp. 264-285 3. Christopher Mead, “Urban Contingency and the Problem of Representation in Second Empire Paris,” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 54, No. 2 (June 1995), pp. 138-174 4. Anne Godlewska, “Map, Text, and Image: The Mentality of Enlightened Conquerors: A New Look at the Description de l’Egypte
Part 6 – Colonial Architecture – Africa and the Americas Readings: 1. Innocent Pikirayi, “The Kingdom, the Power and Forevermore: Zimbabwe Culture in Contemporary Art and Architecture,” Journal of Southern African Studies, Vol. 32, No. 4, Heritage in South Africa (Dec. 2006), pp. 755-770 2. Thomas N. Huffman, “Expressive Space in the Zimbabwe Culture,” Man, New Series, Vol. 19, No. 4 (Dec. 1984), pp. 593-612 3. Daniel Tangri, “Popular Fiction and the Zimbabwe Controversy,” History in Africa, Vol. 17 (1990), pp 293-304 4. Stella Nair, “Witnessing the In-visibility of Inca Architecture in Colonial Peru,” Buildings & Landscapes: Journal of the Vernacular Architecture Forum, Vol. 14, (Fall 2007), pp. 50-65 5. Matthew G. Stanard, “Interwar Pro-Empire Propaganda and European Colonial Culture: Toward a Comparative Research Agenda,” Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan. 2009), pp. 2748 6. Graham Owen, “Forget Europe, Forget America: Architecture and Apartheid,” Journal of Architectural Education (1984-), Vol. 42, No. 3 (Spring 1989), pp. 3-23 Part 7 – The Architecture of Exclusion – The Great Wall of China then and now Readings: 1. Na Li, “Perserving Urban Landscapes as Public History: The Chinese Context,” The Public Historian, Col. 32, No. 4 (Fall 2010), pp. 51-61 2. Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt, “The Tang Architectural Icon and the Politics of Chinese Architectural History,” The Art Bulletin, Vol. 86, No. 2 (June 2004), pp. 228-254
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3. Finbarr Barry Flood, “Between Cult and Culture: Bamiyan, Islamic Iconoclasm, and the Museum, “The Art Bulletin, Vol. 84, No. 4 (Dec. 2002), pp. 641-659 4. Paul Virilio, Sylvere Lotringer and Michael Taormina, “After Architecture: A Conversation,” Grey Room, No. 3 (Spring 2001), pp. 32-53 Part 8 – Architecture and Verticality – The Skyscraper Race Readings: 1. Glenn R. Storey, “The ‘Skyscrapers’ of the Ancient Roman World,” Latomus, T. 62, Fasc. 1 (JANVIERMARS 2003), pp. 3-26 2. Igal Charney, “The Politics of Design: Architecture, Tall Buildings and the Skyline of Central London,” Area, Vol. 39, No. 2 (June 2007), pp. 195-205 3. Larry R. Ford, “Midtowns, Megastrauctures, and World Cities,” Geographical Review, Vol. 88, No. 4, J. B. Jackson and Geography (Oct. 1998), pp. 528-547 4. Merrill Schleier, “Ayn Rand and King Vidor’s Film ‘The Fountainhead’: Architectural Modernism, the Gendered Body, and Political Ideology,” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Vol. 61, No. 3 (Sept. 2002), pp. 310-331
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