This course is a survey of theoretical and critical literature on contemporary architecture. It explores the texts of Marxism and the Frankfurt School, post-structuralism, and psychoanalysis as well as current debates in globalization, urban geography, mass customization, and post-criticality, among others.

For this class a paper has been written, and a weekly journal kept. The paper can be downloaded below.

Paper: A new hope in a new definition; Architecture restricted.

Abstract.
In recent architectural theory there is increasing attention to the text, and the representations of architecture in language. Some theorists go as far as to claim that language is really the only true realm of architecture, rather than drawing. But the discussion as to what architecture is has been going on since the word was invented, probably before we started counting the years. Where do we stand now with architecture, can a text or a drawing really be architecture in itself, or is only built work true architecture?
Using imaginary architecture as an example I wish to discuss the role of language and drawing in the representation of architecture, and arrive at a new definition as to what architecture is, or can be. This will shed light on the difference between building, drawing,
text and other representations of architecture.

Download in PDF format.