171 Blog assignment 11 - Modernism

In “The first Machine age of Europe” (Raizman) Hannes Meyer argued that design is a product of “function x economy”, aligning design with a scientific model driven by new technologies and manufacturing potential. I respect that this may have been a strong idea and drive for design in that time. As Germany was suffering a depression due to the First World War, this caused the economical situations to have a strong functional and economical influence on design of that time. Therefore I disagree that design is the result of function x economy today. However this does not mean it does not come into design at all today. The economy still has an influence on design today.

 I think that design today cannot be either a science or an art; I believe design is always a combination of the two. It is where science and art meet that something is design. There can be science behind both aesthetic and functional sides of design influencing both to make them a successful design. However design can also be expressive just as art, some designs have no scientific explanation but still benefit people and have a function. Especially today where technology is expanding and we have a much larger understanding of aesthetics and art. Everything successful we see in design today is a balanced combination of both science and art. For example the Ipad has large scientific and technological bases, which makes it functional and serve it purpose. but it that is incorporates such a visually pleasing and artistic aspect to its design, present in its physical design and interface  that is successful. The two aid each other; you could not have a design that is solely scientific based because it would be ugly. While you could also not have something solely art based because art is not functional.

 David Raizman, The First Machine Age in Europe

171 blog assignment 10 - Narratives of Progress

I believe that in today’s society the “Symbolic Universe” is the false idea of beauty presented in the media today. In today’s society there is an unrealistic strive to be as beautiful as the people in magazines and media. A lot of these unrealistic images are due to advertising: sex sells using these false images as a way to sell their products. This false idea is also present in other media such as film and television. Giving people the idea that too be successful one must look like this, and that these people are the one true definition of beauty.                                                                              Folke Kihlstedt’s definition in Utopia Realized (Kihlstedt, 1986) was a good beneficial place. In this case then beneficial place is too look like the people in the media. They are the ideal idea of beauty, the perfect or Utopian idea of beauty. Just as other perfect Utopian ideas, this false beauty is unreachable and false. This “Symbolic Universe” is very present in todays society, and is one that has hard a large effect and influence through the media we use today.

Kihlstedt, F. (1986). Utopia Realized: The World’s Fairs of the 1930s

171 blog assignment 9 - Modern Vision

In response to Walter Benjamin’s statement “To an even greater degree the work of art reproduced becomes the work of art designed for reproducibility. From a photographic negative, for example, one can make any number of prints; to ask for the authentic print makes no sense.” (Benjamin, 1936) I disagree as even though some authenticity and specialness may be lost as it’s has been reproduced and is not one of a kind anymore. I believe there is still a certain aura and emotional importance that comes with the original negative. To know that it is the first one and obtains that place in history and time does links a stronger emotion to the piece of art, rather than just its aesthetic importance or beauty.  For example Michelangelo’s David in Florence, Italy has had many replicas made of it, which all share the same physical and artistic traits. However standing in front of the original David, would bring out a certain emotion that the physical beauty of the statue, which all the replicas share; could not. Just knowing that it was the first and thinking about its time and place in history would create such a powerful aura of importance that no replica could imitate through its comparable beauty.