mythology, film and architecture

in this seminar students examined mythology in the conceptualization, design, and understanding of architecture and cities. "mythology" in the context of this course is both the explanatory parable as well as the unconscious concepts permeating our culture. the goal of this course was to reveal and further understand these conscious and unconscious influences of myth on the built environment.

atudents studied the role of mythology in architecture through the analysis of film and selected works of architecture. employed as contemporary parable or conveyor of mythology, film embodies the mythology and ritual depicted and continued in our society. this analysis of mythic idea in the description and depiction of architecture is an attempt to reveal, interpret, and transfer the conceptual base of architecture into the design of architecture and space.

the intention of this seminar was to investigate the ways in which film portrays architecture and urban spaces. the course examined myth and semiotics to first understand the role of media in conveying meaning followed by specific architectural issues and associated films.

students examined the role of contemporary mythology as cultural idea in the conceptualization, design, and understanding of architecture. "mythology", in the context of this course, was both the explanatory parable as well as the unconscious concepts permeating our culture. the goal of this course was to reveal and further understand these conscious and unconscious influences of myth on the built environment. throughout the semester, students studied the role of mythology in architecture through the analysis of film and selected works of architecture. film was employed as contemporary parables or conveyors of mythology. in film we can see examples of mythology and ritual depicted and continued in our society; mythologies of the hero, the city, growth, etc. analysis of the mythic idea in the description and depiction of architecture was an attempt to reveal, interpret, and transfer the conceptual base of architecture into the design of architecture and space. as designers, we encounter or are driven consciously or unconsciously by cultural mythology -- both subtle and blatant -- in decisions from conceptual idea to prosaic use of space. the aim, therefore, was to recognize mythology as a source of influence in the design of form and space.

topics

topic 1: introduction to mythology: sign, symbol, and meaning

topic 2: introduction to mythology ll: contemporary mythologies

topic 3: introduction to film: technique and art

topic 4: the city

topic 5: suburbia and arcadia

topic 6: the american landscape

topic 7: sacred place / profane space

topic 8: the home

topic 9: the work place

topic 10: the machine

topic 11: making of object / making of place

topic 12: abstraction and expressionism

topic 13: modern myth and transparency

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