Assignment 8 - Modernism: standardisation, rationalisation, and the search for the universal

I believe that it is a combination of science and art that makes good design. Hannes Meyer's view on design and how it is a product of 'function x economy' was because of the time period it was placed in. The new era of industrialization had just begun , mass production was a new accomplishment and the technology was slow advancing. Now days mass production is not new to us making our views on design more open and free because of the resources we have acquired over the last century.

While function and economy are necessary factors to consider in design consumption and manufacture, there is also the other factor of aesthetics behind it. The aesthetic value needs to be thought of because for a person to buy something it must interest the buyer with its aesthetic appeal. Something will not become popular if the aesthetics are not considered and this apple is so popular.

I believe apple is so popular because of its aesthetic appeal. Of course its function is a vital part of its design but it is the sleek look of apple that drags the customer in.

The link to the photo - http://images.appleinsider.com/macbook17090106-2.png

Assignment 7 - Narratives of Progress

A 'Symbolic universe' was an idea that was portrayed in the 19th and 20th century's. The idea of a 'symbolic universe' was to create hope for the future when the world was in dark times. In this period of time it was mainly the great depression that brought these hard times, when people struggled to get employed . The hope of a symbolic universe was made by the Worlds Fairs. The Worlds Fairs show societies the progress of the worlds technology and where this was heading the the future. Electricity was starting to advance in America and was seen as a symbol for power, making America very dominant. In the 1901 Worlds Fair in Buffalo(the city of light), New York a 400ft tower was built that illuminated the sky. It was said that it was 'The Birth of Power' - Willy Pogany.

Technology was slow integrated into everyone's daily lives and with this integration of technology brought along many business and advertising opportunities. Now days the 'symbolic universe' still exists. It is very apparent in company's wanting to sell products to people. this is the difference between a symbolic universe now and an symbolic universes in the 19th and 20th century's. Back then it was used for hard times and now it is used for profit. An example of this is the lynx deodorant. Lynx advertisements created a symbolic universe by using girls.

It is insinuated that when this product is used then girls will fellow you everywhere you go, despite your attractiveness. This provides a dream for men and convince then to by it.

Although this type of 'symbolic universe' is false i still believe that it is need in the world of today. The adverts allow hard working people to have a small taste of what it could be like.

Link to photo - http://stimulantonline.ca/content/images/l/1595.jpg

Assignment 6 - Modern Vision

Walter Benjamin believed that something authentic was a singular object that had not been reproduced. If it was the only object that existed then it was valued a lot more. Once replications of it were made it was no longer as special or it was not valued as much. Donatello's statue of David is an example of Benjamin's idea of 'authentic'. The statue was made in the 1440s out of bronze. It is the only one of its kind and it has a history to it. It is recorded as the centerpiece of the first courtyard in the Palazzo Medici during the wedding festivities of Lorenzo de' Medici and Clarice Orsini in 1469. But now there are two more versions of the statue; one is a full-size plaster cast (with a broken sword) in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the other is a full-size white marble copy in the Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens. Benjamin thought that singular existing objects were special and had a certain aura about them.

I agree with Benjamin and the idea that authentication is lost once it has been reproduced. Once  something is no longer 'authentic' it has lost its aura about it. It is not valued knowing that someone owns something that you own that is close and dare to you. It would no longer harbor that meaning as much as it used to. One of the best examples of authentication is people. Every person is authentic because they are the only one of them in the world. Essentially everyone it different. People would not be very authentic if everyone looked the same.

I believed that in this day and age Benjamins idea of authentication has been lost. Any digital photo taken can be reproduced with a simple click of a button. There seems to be fewer and fewer things were there is only one of its kind. I think this be mainly be due to modern technology and how advanced it is getting. The most authentic thing i have found is my own artwork. I think that if there is a reproduced artwork then its value is little to none. Benjamin quoted ' That which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art'.