The ends of America, the ends of postmodernism; On CofL49 again, always

[David Morris]

Not all buildings are Architecture, just as not all writing is
Literature.  Buildings that are essentially huge TV screens don't
aspire to be modern, postmodern, or any other architectural style.
This thread started with a discussion of the state of Postmodernism
today.  So not just any building that's thrown up is relevant to that
discussion, just as the latest Romance Novel isn't relevant to a
discussion of Postmodern Literature.

On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 5:53 PM,  <malignd at aol.com> wrote:
> <<Times Square isn't architecture, it's advertising.  Giant electronic
> billboards swallowing up whole buildings.>>
>
> I'm sorry, but you're defining what architecture is and is not, can be and
> cannot be.  Architecture is not just theories and little cardboard boxes on
> the desks of archtects.  The buildings you're describing are the homes of
> Reuters and Conde Nast, among others. And they will define that section of
> Manhattan for a long time to come.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>
> To: malignd at aol.com
> Cc: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Sent: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 5:50 pm
> Subject: Re: The ends of America, the ends of postmodernism; On CofL49
> again,  always
>
>
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>
> Times Square isn't architecture, it's advertising.  Giant electronic
> billboards swallowing up whole buildings.
>
> Bad architecture (meaning *today* any postmodernism still being
> practiced by mediocre designers) has always outnumbered quality
> architecture.  I think that rule holds true for all of the arts.  But
> no "starchitects" have been doing postmodernism for at least 15 years
> (if not 20).  The stars of postmodern architecture back in the 80's
> have either moved on, or they are being ignored as irrelevant.
>
> David Morris
>
> On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 3:58 PM,  <malignd at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> <<I haven't read the whole article yet, but Postmodernism
>
> Architecture has
> been dead for at least 20 years now.>>
>>
>> A quick stroll around midtown Manhattan, particularly Times Square,
>
> might
> persuade you otherwise.
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