Retroactive Manifestos: Why They Work

Avant-gard ideas that push the boundaries of public opinion and public works often push people away from forward thinking. Radical ideas come across as shocking if the author does not create the correct narrative to explain the concept. A person demanding to be taken seriously does not receive the credit they desire; not until they can back up their ideas with proof.

Le Corbusier's Radiant City 

When Le Corbusier proposed his plan to remodel Paris, he proposed an unthinkable idea. However, looking at his idea today, viewers might not find it so shocking. In fact, the idea of demolishing historic structures to erect larger and more profitable buildings can be found all over the United States. Le Corbusier lacked the decades of progress between the proposal of his Radiant City and the modern world.

Looking back in time and extracting truths from history, while still sometimes shocking, create a better platform to push new ideas. History cannot be undone, and extracting conclusions from a bygone world give an author or thinker a solid base from which to push their ideas. Retroactive manifestos of architecture often reveal new undiscovered ideas and points of view, gleaned from social experiments and built environments. Those experiments have already been proven to work and may be applied to modern thoughts and projects. Looking for a perfect way to pitch an idea that might change the world? Try writing a retroactive manifesto.

Delirious New York, a retroactive manifesto by Rem Koolhaas