Film, architecture and other spaces

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to demonstrate how a method of criticism engendered for one medium appears to have efficacy regarding another. Specifically, architecture is now being considered experientially and conceptually like a drama of images and concepts-like film, for example. This is an initial attempt to describe a cultural tendency as opposed to an empirical phenomenon and therefore a relatively discursive approach has been selected as being most appropriate to the subject matter. In order to demonstrate the central point, it will be necessary to describe extant methods of criticism. This is the purpose of the first section of the report. Following that, the middle section, instead of lifting film criticism techniques and laying them over architecture, uses a common approach to film and architecture. To that end, there is a section dealing with film case studies in an abstracted manner, an analysis of the method and then an application to architecture. The final section consists of a summary of the method as applied over the two apparently disparate media and assessment of its appropriateness while another section assesses the method in a wider context: its weaknesses, its strenghths and the possibilities for further development.