World's Greatest Architect: Making, Meaning, and Network Culture

Language: English

Published by MIT Press (MA) September 2008, 2008

0262633647 / 9780262633642

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Seller: Hennessey + Ingalls, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.Hennessey + Ingalls

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Softcover

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Artifacts (including works of architecture) play dual roles; theysimultaneously perform functions and carry meaning. Columns support roofs, but whilethe sturdy Tuscan and Doric types traditionally signify masculinity, the slim andelegant Ionic and Corinthian kinds read as feminine. Words are often inscribed onobjects. (On a door: 'push' or 'pull.') Today, information isdigitally encoded (dematerialized) and displayed (rematerialized) to become part ofmany different objects, at one moment appearing on a laptop screen and at another, perhaps, on a building facade (as in Times Square). Well-designed artifacts succeedin being both useful and meaningful. In World's Greatest Architect, William Mitchelloffers a series of snapshots--short essays and analyses--that examine the systems offunction and meaning currently operating in our buildings, cities, and globalnetworks. In his writing, Mitchell makes connections that aren't necessarily obviousbut are always illuminating, moving in one essay from Bush-Cheney's abuse oflanguage to Robert Venturi's argument against rigid ideology and in favor ofgraceful pragmatism. He traces the evolution of Las Vegas from Sin/Sign City tofamily-friendly resort and residential real estate boomtown. A purchase of chipsleads not only to a complementary purchase of beer but to thoughts of Eames chairs(like Pringles) and Gehry (fun to imitate with tortilla chips in refried beans). Asfor who the world's greatest architect might be, here's a hint: he's also theoldest. Function and meaning in architecture and elsewhere, from tongue-in-cheek instructions for creating a surveillance state to reflections on the architecture of the potato chip.…

Seller Inventory # 20110224134397

Title
World's Greatest Architect: Making, Meaning, and Network Culture
Author
William J Mitchell,
Publisher
MIT Press (MA) September 2008
Publication year
2008
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Trade Paperback
Language
English
ISBN 10
0262633647
ISBN 13
9780262633642
Seller catalogs
Architecture - Theory

Hennessey + Ingalls

Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

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