The pervasive (universal) influence of western culture and the accelerating communication between cultures, regions and countries has led to increasing internationalisation or globalisation of design. However, there has been debate as to whether or not, cultural, regional, national and local factors remain important. Write an essay, which argues the case FOR these factors being included as influences on design processes and outcomes. Your essay should refer to at least two examples from any field of design.
The universality of Western Culture and design is hard to miss as it is intertwined with cities across the globe. Its impact and power has been paramount to the development of nations from the times or colonialism. With trade being a basic means of survival, from the beginning of colonialism and trade,
Because of the value nation-states hold in the innovative and advanced nature of western design, along with the scale of modernity on which a city’s wealth, status and hence power is determined, states from all continents and cultures have opted to adopt the western styles into their own.
MY OVERALL POINT: DESPITE THE GLOBALISTION OF WESTERN CULTURE AND DESIGN, LOCAL FACTORS REMAIN IMPORTANT.
Introduction:
The universality of Western Culture and Design is evident in the aesthetics, interior and form of buildings and is intertwined with many cultures across the globe. Its impact and power has been paramount to the development of nations from the times of colonialism. The process of internationalisation is one of much detail and extensive discoveries. To put it simply, the under or less-developed countries looked towards the western countries in terms of aid in the late 1800s. The modernity of the United States, the United...
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...ies and a secluded women-only pool for those who wear headscarves illustrate the values of the locals. It also serves halal food and allows for 5am wakeup calls for morning prayers. Another form of western architecture that exemplifies the importance of local and national factors is the Dubai International Airport. It too caters for the Muslim population by supplying separate washrooms, prayer spaces, halal food stores as well as hiring women customs workers for searching any women wearing the head scarf if necessary. For a hotel to be designed in Dubai the exact same way as it would be in the West may prove to be unsuccessful simply because the target market or majority of Dubai’s population would not be catered for. All in all, it is evident that the local, regional and national factors of Dubai do remain exceedingly important throughout the globalisation process.
Blij has clearly put this book into historical significance by mentioning the idea of geography and how it plays a role in societies all over the world. However, the five themes of culture regions, cultural diffusion, cultural interaction, cultural ecology, and cultural landscapes are all clearly defined within a specific context to a particular nation. Through reading this intriguing piece of literature I received the underlying notion that Blij firmly believes that landscapes of the world realm are not going to change. De Blij worldview of regions, diffusion, interaction, ecology, and landscapes has allowed him to simultaneously link issues together from the United States all the way to Southeast Asia.
Turner’s thesis concerning western civilization highlights exactly what I pictured to be western culture. The western world was simple. It allowed endless freedom. It provided opportunity for something new. It provided religious and educational opportunities. The movement toward the west was the beginning of something great.
Discuss and compare the interaction of nationalism and building style in three buildings or periods. What is the role of innovation and or appropriation in the representation of national identity and political ideology?
One of the great things about America is the fact that it echoes previous centuries in ways that not many people would expect. Due to its diversity, it is thought of as a melting pot because it is filled with all kinds of culture and people from all over the world. But instead of this stereotypical metaphor, America can be thought of as the place where world architecture has not died, but instead has continued to thrive in a way that makes it suitable towards modern expectations. Greek architecture has been one of the most commonly used within this context. Although it emerged almost 3,000 years ago, the application of their architecture is still widely used today in places that aren’t Europe. We can see evidence of this through America’s government and financial buildings such as the Georgia’s Chamber of Commerce, the Capitol and even more commonly known, the White House. The White House is a major symbol of the United States and when bystanders observe its white walls, they not only a building of high status among the American people, but they also catch a glimpse into the past of centuries worth of influential architecture.
According to Charles Jencks, "The modern world, compelled forward by the imperative of continuous growth, is a juggernaut with no reverse gear". To architecture, modernism is like the discovery of the American continent all over again, a territory that is not owned,...
The Western culture has evolved over a span of several years with various civilizations specializing in specific aspects of life or nature. In essence, Western civilization dates back to the BCE periods when Ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, and Ancient Rome reigned. Each of the Western civilizations came with a clear lineage that portrayed such attributes as property rights, free market economy, competition, personal freedoms, and innovation (Perry, 2013). Besides, the western civilizations came at different periods with some of the attributes evolving or remaining unchanged throughout the lineage. However, the non-western civilizations contributed towards such attributes to a given extent, primarily because of the interactions among
Thomas Jefferson was one of the front runners that established the need for a unified American style. He advocated that laying out cities and buildings could reflect America’s ideals. Jefferson, as well as others, believed that by adhering to a classicized architectural st...
...quite some time. Indeed a hundred years from now, nations, for example, Egypt, Italy, and France will at present hold their customary architectural charm regardless will be worth going by, paying little mind to which drive wins. All around a large portion of the Arab standard, architects, and the overall population, appear to a huge degree to withdraw themselves from the architectural models of their neighborhood legacy, which they perceive as old fashioned, mediocre, and less equipped to adapt to cutting edge necessities, and rather float positively towards Western ideas (Hummon, 1986, pg 35). It is essential
In the work of Best, S. and Kellner, D. “Postmodern turn” (1997, p.152) they state that postmodern architecture was a particular reaction to the aesthetics and as they describe “Philosophical assumptions” of the International Style. This is because one believes that the International style was refusing to incorporate the architectural forms of previous generations as if they were trying to detach themselves from the past.
Abstract: Contemporary architects have a wide variety of sources to gain inspiration from, but this has not always been the case. How did modernism effect sources of inspiration? What did post-modernism do to liberate the choice of influences? Now that Contemporary architects have the freedom of choice, how are they using “traditional” styles and materials to inspire them? Even after modernism why are traditional styles still around?
The Western Culture focuses on two methods of healing: chemically engineered compounds and surgical procedures. For instance, in the United States, individuals have the option of antidepressants with or without the aid of cognitive therapy(Selhub 2007) Most individuals choose the quick approach due to its alluring quick fix scheme. These contrasts different from the Eastern Culture’s main focus: the power of the mind and the energy from within: mind, body, and soul. The effects of Eastern Culture’s approach have been proven to be enduring and beneficial to the individuals involved. The Western Culture would greatly
When linking the concept of cultural relativism to architecture, one would realize that both these components depend on each other. One cannot exist without the other (Kohler, 2003). Kohler remarks that in order for architecture to be progressive, The transfer and acceptance of technologies and techniques has to be based on a sound knowledge of regional culture (Kohler, 2003). In other words, the existing architecture or urban environment has to distinguish the features of regional diversity. Cultural exchange must consider the environment. No clash exists between regional and environmental appropriate construction techniques (Kohler, 2003). This is so because traditional architecture has adopted economic and environmental solutions. Conflict can only exist if one considers the ‘international style’ that has popularized the modern era with its high resource consumption. Kohler (2003) also stresses that there should be no regional cultural boundaries in order for architecture to be progressive (Kohler, 2003:86)
It unites the universe and makes the art of communication, interaction and socializing very effective. Any design models for the future use should base the professional advancement on the above items for proper use in the future by different cultures. Another key thing that multiple researches have concluded is that homogenizing the cultures is so disturbing and should not be encouraged at any cost. This will greatly affect the roots and customs of many cultures hence the loss of sense in the society and in the world at large. The product designed by the engineer is not the important thing but the context of its use is the most important thing. Also because training across the world is similar does not mean their products should be the same. This because the design is influenced by the needs of the people and the education acquired should just be a guiding factor to the design. Different methods should be employed to sensitize cultural variations and the needs of people in the society. Different engineering designs should not comprise the cultural values and morals but should enhance the different cultures and promote
Have you ever seen or visited the Capital building, Washington or amphitheater of Arlinton, Virginia or Cabin John bridge of Washington aqueduct? If an answer is yes, then have you ever think that how we come up with this type of buildings? These all buildings’ basic structures are based on the Greek and Roman cultures’ architecture. Historical records of Western culture in Europe begin with Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Roman culture was very inspired from the Greece culture and they had used very basic ideas to build buildings and temples, to portrait sculpture. They modernized and improved their architectures and sculptures in decorative way and made a separate image in the world.
Westernization is the process in which regional or local cultures become heavily influenced by western culture and society, which in turn leads to cultural homogeneity. Many countries all over the world are affected by westernization, including India which is a land of very deep cultural roots. This raises the question of how can the process westernization affect the rich Indian culture? With India’s increasing modernization it has been difficult to ward off the effects of westernization. Westernization has the power to bring about many positive as well as negative changes in a society. In the case of India it’s culture it has been negatively affected through the adoption of western centric ideologies, which have led to a rapid loss of rich Indian culture. Some notable effects of westernization in India are its adoption of a parliamentary system, and the acceptance and incorporation of western technologies and clothing into