Nonidentity Moment: Modernity As A Critique Of Tectonic

The topic of this dissertation comes from my puzzlement when I am researching on thepresent theories of "tectonic". This confusion is related to the different indications of"tectonic" in different times and different positions. Therefore, in this paper, "tectonic" isfirstly regarded as a kind of "condition of knowledge", and at the same time, the variousopinions and ideas of "tectonic" will be examined in the context of modernity. That is tosay, "the perspective of modernity in the perception of tectonic" is the entry point of thispaper.The critical theory of Frankfurt School, especial the philosophy of"nonidentity" fromAdomo provides a significant foundation of methodology for the dissertation. Therefore,the research paper aims at establishing the so-called "tectonic constellation" of"nonidentity" through modernity as critique of "tectonic", and furthermore, exploring thestrategies of"tectonic" under the special Chinese discourse of modernity.The research on modernity as critique of "tectonic" is carried out by the researchframework of "parallel structure" which can be divided into three parts.The first part of this paper, "Overdraft of Imagination", based on the position of"enlightenment concept of modernity", discusses the metaphysic study on "tectonic", the"slippage" of "tectonic" and the restructuring "tectonic" discourse via enlightenmentconcept of modernity. Therefore, it unfolds the contributive key of "tectonic" for modernarchitecture. Simultaneously, a conclusion can be drawn that: the contemporary concept of"tectonic" is the highly assimilative results of modernization.The second part of this paper is involved with the position of "culture modernity".Through analyzing the critical opinions of"tectonic" by scholars, such as Gottfried Semper,Adolf Loos, Eduard Sekler and Kenneth Frampton, it indicated that: "tectonic" is apractical strategy of critique. Its critical potential as "cultural modernity" constantly relatedto the initiation and development of "tectonic" concept as a contributive process ofenlightenment of modernity. The third part of this paper, "Dangerous Frontier", can be regarded as an attempt tointerrelate both discourses of "tectonic" based on "enlightenment modernity" and "culturemodernity". Especially, the "constellation of tectonic", derived from Adorno's philosophyof "nonidentity" provides us the moments to break through the traditional metaphysic ofontology. Therefore, it helps us integrally discern the ideas of "tectonic" in different timesand different positions which puzzled us for a long time. Besides, it also help to develop arelation which presents that these concepts of "tectonic" are interrelated andinter-referenced to each other so as to provide an open-ended, un-repressive, nonidentitydiscourses of "tectonic".The last part of this dissertation is devoted to shifting from the theoretical to thepractical issues of modernity as critique of "tectonic". It also develops two themes aboutpostmodern tectonics based on two discourses of post-modernity. One is derived from thetheories from Gottfried Semper to Giles Deleuze, which unfolds the development tendencyof "tectonic" theories in western architectural realm through exploring the concept ofswarm tectonic. The other is based on the thinking from "tectonic" to "yingzao"."Yingzao" regarded as the kind of frontier discourse of "tectonic" uncovers theparticularity of Chinese context of modernity. Simultaneously, "yingzao" is alsoemphasized as the theoretical foundation and practical guidelines so that the practicalsignificances and contemporary value of modernity as critique of "tectonic" can bearticulated and stressed.I believe that the modernity as critique of "tectonic" can inspire the intention whichstems from the modernity and also provide critique of modernity.