Overall layout:
Theory about John Ruskin’s idea of arts and crafts architecture theory manifested in England.
– Briefly discussing the context and background of the arts and craft movement
o At the social background of industrialization at the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century
o How from the gothic medieval etc.…background the theory derived its orientation
o What kind of image/impression it tried to present itself to the public (romantic, countryside, non-urban, nature)
– How does the theory work? (architecturally)
o How is the Red House and other arts and craft architecture different from contemporary houses and inspired by its theory (How does the theory function as a mechanism, and how it operates)
o Writing from John Ruskin, the attachment document (ex. How the quality of gothic impact the arts and craft movement mechanism. And why the arts and craft movement success at that period)
o How its orientation towards factories is perceived differently by believers. (One example is that people like William Morris do not object to using machines. Some others argue artists do not responsible for every stage of manufacturing.)
o Etc..
– Its impact on society and the international scale
– How it vanishes and what has been kept till today
(Please feel free to improve/revise/improvise the structure, they right now do not follow any specific order)
Two additional material sources are in the attachment.
The next page is assignment rubric
1. Choose a piece of architectural theory.
2. Analyze how it works in exactly 10 pages – not more not less – [with any images not part of the 10 pages of text].
3. Submit as pdf to courseworks assignment [no late papers accepted]
Tips:
*Your selected piece of architectural theory does not have to have been discussed in class, or belong to the historical periods that have been discussed so far.
*Theory takes many forms and each piece of theory you choose will raise different kinds of issue and needs to be analyzed in its own way, but here are some of the basic kinds of question that might be relevant:
What is the context? (ie. where is the theory placed)
What is the intended audience? (i.e. who is it directed to)
What is the mission or strategic role of the theory? (ie. what does it try to persuade to who)
What identifies it as “theory”?
What argument is made and in what way?
What does the theory take for granted? (ie. what assumptions, concepts, words are presupposed)
What does the theory think cannot be taken for granted? (ie. what is treated as problematic, needing to be decided, discussed or resolved…etc)
What kind of language is used?
What is the role of graphic layout, typography, images, etc.?
What kind of framing devices are used?
What elements of the theory seem historically specific?
….etc, etc, etc.
*You should ask yourself all these kinds of question when looking at your chosen piece of theory, even if you decide to concentrate in detail on only one or several of them.
*Treat the piece of theory as the only evidence you have, and subject it to forensic evidence in your lab.
*Always remember the basic question of the assignment: how does this particular piece of theory work?
Think of it as a kind of device or mechanism, and try to see exactly how this mechanism operates, how does it try to achieve its goal.
