THE ROLE OF THE VISUAL ARTS IN POST-MODERN AND LATE-MODERN ARCHITECTURE: A COMPARATIVE STUD

In the early sixties, an architectural style emerged in the United States and Western Europe that had design characteristics opposed to the most influential building force of the period--Modernism. This newer form appeared to break all the established rules of what was considered doctrinaire architecture. It used historical details and elements, and was unusually abstract in appearance. Labeled Post-Modern by Jencks, Stern and others, this design type was practiced by architects who were especially interested in the origins of pre-Modernist architecture. These architects, among them Venturi and Moore, borrowed freely from history, the visual arts and even the surrounding urban environment. It clearly represented a radical departure from what has been known as the safe haven of Modernist doctrine.;Shortly after this period, another development in architecture was recognized, one less involved with history and the urban context, but just as preoccupied with abstract shapes. Represented by architects like Eisenman, Meier and the early Graves, these designers were inspired by the modalities of early Modernism--de Stijl, Constructivism and the houses of Le Corbusier. Their works, along with high tech, sculptured corporate buildings, prompted Jencks and other writers to refer to this style as Late-Modernism.;Evidently a dichotomy in the new architectural forms had appeared. A comparison shows that one style has evolved from history and the visual arts, while the other, despite its technical advances, maintains the legacy of Modernism.;The increase in architectural theories and criticism has also contributed to the proliferation of eclectic designs. Books and articles by Venturi, Stern, Jencks, et al., indicate a predilection for conceptual thinking. It has also resulted in the nostalgia for the past as implied by the term Post-Modern Classicism used for the works of Bofill and Krier. But this is a delimiting title since Post-Modernism also incorporates the visual arts as perceived in the works of Gehry and Graves.;Late-Modernism, in contrast, emphasizes the role of technology in architecture. The conclusion to be drawn from this complex picture is that an analysis of both styles, based on their visual components and theoretical sources, is essential if their differences are to be appreciated.