History of Arch’l Theory, 48-341, Spring 2010 Prof.

Gutschow, Seminar #15

(4/21/10)

POSTMODERNISM (in architecture)

Required Readings (in order of priority):
Jencks, J. “The Postmodern Agenda,” in The Postmodern Reader (1992),
pp.10-39; see also Jencks, The Language of Postmodern Architecture
(1977 & many ed’s), excerpt in Hays, Architecture Theory since 1968

Klotz, H. “Postmodern Architecture,” excerpt from Klotz, The History of

Postmodern Architecture (1984) in Jencks, The Postmodern Reader
(1992) pp.234-248.

Mallgrave, H.F Architectural Theory, vol.2. An Anthology from 1871-2005

(2008), req’d 384-419; skim 333-456.

Frampton, “The Isms of Contemporary Architecture,” in Drexler, ed. Modern

Architecture and the Critical Present (1982), pp. 60-83. See also
Frampton, Modern Architecture, A Critical History (1980).

Venturi, R. Complexity & Contradiction in Architecture (NY: MoMA, 1966),

excerpts

Venturi, Scott Brown, & Izenour, Learning from Las Vegas (1972; MS 1968),
excerpts

Rowe, C., “Introduction,” in Five Architects (1972), pp. 3-8.

Assigned Readings
Rossi, A. The Architecture of the City (1966), excerpts.

Lyotard, J.F. “Answering the Question: What is Postmodernism?,” from The

Postmodern Condition (1979, 1984), excerpted in Jencks, ed. The
Postmodern Reader (1992), pp.138-150; and in Mallgrave, vol.2.

Portoghesi, ed. The Presence of the Past. Venice Biennale. Architecture

(1980), essays by Portoghesi, Scully, Norberg-Schulz & Jencks.

Tafuri, M. “L’Architecture dans le Boudoir: The Language of Criticism and the

Criticism of Language,” Oppositions (1974); from Hays, Architecture
Theory since 1968, pp.146-173. See also “Towards a Critique of
Ideology,” Contropiano (1969), in Hays, Arch. Theory Since 1968 pp.2-35;
and Tafuri, Architecture & Utopia (1973).
Chronology of (some) Important Texts Defining/Theorizing Postmodernism in architecture:
Critiques by Hudnut, Banham, Stirling, Smithson, Jacobs, Mumford, etc. 1945ff.
Blake, P. God's own junkyard; the planned deterioration of America's landscape (1964)
* Venturi, R. Complexity & Contradiction in Architecture (NY: MoMA, 1966; article 1965)
+ Rossi, A. The Architecture of the City (1966)
Moore, Ch. “Plug it in Rameses...” in Perspecta 11 (1967)
Tafuri, M. “Towards a Critique of Ideology,” Contropiano (1969), in Hays, Arch. Theory Since 1968
pp.2-35.
Jencks, “Semiology in Architecture,” in Baird & Jencks, eds., Meaning in Architecture (1969).
McHarg, Ian. Design with Nature (1969)
Jencks. Architecture 2000: Predictions & Methods (1971)
Jencks & N. Silver, Ad-hocism (1972)
* Venturi, Scott Brown, & Izenour, Learning from Las Vegas (1972; article 1968)
* Rowe, C., “Introduction,” in Five Architects (1972), pp. 3-8.
Rowe, C. & F. Koetter. Collage City (1978; MS 1973)
+ Tafuri, M. “L’Architecture dans le Boudoir: The Language of Criticism and the Criticism of
Language,” Oppositions (1974); from Hays, Architecture Theory since 1968, pp.146-173.
Blake, P. Form Follows Fiasco. Why Mod. Arch Hasn’t Worked (1974)
Jencks, “The Rise of Postmodern Architecture,” Arch. Assoc. Quarterly 7:4 (1975).
+ Jencks, The Language of Postmodern Architecture (1977 & many ed’s)
Koolhaas, R. Delirious New York: a retroactive manifesto for Manhattan (1978)
Norberg-Schulz. Genius Loci (1979)
+ Lyotard, J.F. “Answering the Question: What is Postmodernism?,” from The Postmodern Condition
(1979, 1984), excerpted in Jencks, ed. The Postmodern Reader (1992), pp.138-150.
+ Portoghesi, ed. The Presence of the Past. Venice Biennale. Architecture (1980); includes Jencks
“Towards a Radical Eclecticism” and Portoghesi “The end of Prohibitionism”; see also
Portoghesi, P. After Modern Architecture (1980).
Habermas, J. “Modernity: An Unfinished Project,” (1981), from Jencks, ed. The Postmodern Reader
(1992), pp.158-169
* Frampton, “The Isms of Contemporary Architecture,” in Drexler, ed. Modern Architecture and the
Critical Present (1982), pp. 60-83. See also Frampton, Modern Architecture, A Critical History
(1980 & later ed’s).
Portoghesi, P. “What is the Postmodern?,” excerpt from The Postmodern, the Architecture of the
Post-industrial Society (1983) in Jencks, The Postmodern Reader (1992), pp.208-214.
Baudrillard, “The Ecstasy of Communication,” in H. Foster, The Ant-Aesthetic (1983); from Jencks,
ed. The Postmodern Reader (1992), pp.151-157.
Frampton, Kenneth. “Towards a Critical Regionalism,” in The Anti-Aesthetic, pp.16-30.
Huyssen, A. “Mapping the Postmodern,” from New German Critique (1984); from Jencks, ed. The
Postmodern Reader (1992), pp.40-72
* Klotz, H. “Postmodern Architecture,” excerpt from Klotz, The History of Postmodern Architecture
(1984) in Jencks, The Postmodern Reader (1992) pp.234-248.
McLeod, Mary. “Architecture & Politics in the Reagan Era: From Postmodernism to
Deconstructivism,” Assemblage 8 (1989).
Wigley, M., “Deconstructivist Architecture,” in Deconstructivist Architecture (1988), pp.10-20.
* Jencks, J. “The Postmodern Agenda,” in The Postmodern Reader (1992), pp.10-39.
Ghirardo, D. Architecture After Modernism (1996)
Jencks, “The Volcano and the Tablet,” in Theories & Manifestoes of Contemp Arch (1997 & 2006)
Anthologies:
Nesbitt, K. Theorizing a New Agenda for Modern Architecture... 1965-2000 (1996), esp. pp.72-109
Jencks, Theories & Manifestoes of Contemp. Architecture 2nd ed (1997, 2006), esp. pp.2-84, 207-47
Hays, K. Michael, Architecture Theory Since 1968 (1998), esp. pp.2-173.
Leach, N. Rethinking Architecture
* Mallgrave, H.F Architectural Theory, vol.2. An Anthology from 1871-2005 (2008), esp. 333-456.