A comparison of movies and architecture
O One interpretation that I took from our discussion on Tuesday was Eisenman’s argument of form vs function in architecture. If I interpreted the reading correctly, Eisenman argues that architecture before his time became dominated by a function-first architecture style, and that architecture needs to/has the opportunity to change into emphasizing form over function. Before even breaking down the pros and cons of this, or if this is even a valid thought, I wanted to compare architecture to films. There are some films that serve to tell a story (Home Alone 2: Lost in New York) and there are other films that serve as a piece of art/cinematography itself (1917). These two styles mirror the form (cinematography) vs function (story telling) in architecture. I believe most would agree that these two films are fantastic movies, but for two entirely different purposes. Home alone 2 is a classic Christmas movie that combines heartfelt storytelling with comedic relief, where 1917 captures a new way of illustrating the atmosphere of WW1. I would extend this argument to architecture, where form-focused buildings has the potential to overshadow function-focused buildings based on their aesthetic design. Just like for the movies presented above, buildings can be created for form or for function, but one style isn't necessarily better than the other. To compare buildings, I believe one should much closer than just the basic form vs. function argument.
I totally agree with what you're saying. The argument shouldn't be about simply the style or premise of the thoughts that drove the project, but the result that enhanced or swayed the human experience (in a movies case, the entertainment factor).
ReplyDeleteI love the way that you chose to look at this-- I think it helped me understand my own opinion a little better as well. It's the idea that both types of films can coexist simultaneously and both enhance the world we live in. Similarly, who would want a sameness of our built world, where every building is designed with the same methodology and intent? Instead, each building is a world in its own in that it is informed by a multiplicity of factors unique to itself. That is why it is so important to study architecture with the intent to understand, not to condemn.
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