How Civilization and Culture have Affected Architecture and Art in General (Essay Sample)

Architecture
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Introduction
Frampton in his article talks about the connection that is found in culture and civilization and how it has for several years affected architecture and other forms of art (Jian, 2009). Culture can be said to be the beliefs and practices of a given group of people. Civilization, on the other hand, has become a topic that is spoken about even more. It is often about the mixing of cultures of various groups of people to adapt one that is entirely new. Due to the increase in globalization, the process of civilization seems to be one that does not seem to end. This article therefore, in analysis and discussion of the sentiments brought up by Frampton, looks at how civilization and culture have affected architecture and art in general over the years.
Rafael Moneo seeks to define the word type, or typology with regards to architecture (Binbin, 2010). The basis of architecture and all architectural objects and techniques tie it back to typology. Typology is the ability to classify objects together because they are similar to each other, or that they have features that are not so far apart, that qualify them as almost the same thing. Typology is what has assisted in the growth of architecture and other forms of art. This is because it enables artists to describe in detail a particular object, thus enabling other artists to emulate it, or to produce objects that are in close comparison with the ones that are described.
Type is what essentially defines all forms of architecture (Jacoby, 2015). This is because it presents pre existing forms of the same art. Those that seek to modify them to fit their own creativity can do so, but they must first identify the object as it is, in order for them to understand what alteration will mean for it. typology assist in the better understanding of architecture as an art, for it is through type that we all get to understand the different designs and forms that the objects in study are made of.
Quatremere de Quincy analyzes the close relationship that has been observed to exist between architecture as an art, and typology. According to him, typology has largely enabled architects to connect the present and the future to the past, because it seems to give a valid explanation for the meaning of architecture, and draws us back to the beginning when humans first found the need for architecture. It is therefore safe to say, that architecture does not exist in the current world as a standalone art, since most of the architectural objects are deep rooted into the circumstances surrounding their existence, with a large emphasis based on history.
Anthony Vidler does not believe that architecture has to conform to the typology groups that have been presented since the days before. According to him, typology exists in two forms. The first one, which he calls the ‘first typology', refers to the one that has been described by Quatremere and Laugier, whose ideas he has constantly identified with (Portney, 2005). The second typology is one that began to exist after industrial revolution. During this period, humans began to abandon the old ways of doing things, and started introducing the use of machinery in almost all aspects of their lives. This of course, gave rise to the ease of doing things, which then led to mass production of art and material that is used in architecture. It also introduced new technologies which would be used to make new kinds of materials, thus form new groupings for architecture.
Vidler feels that typology is open- ended, thus giving a person the ability to classify architecture in whichever form they deem necessary and appropriate. Type therefore seems to exist as a form of literary metaphor. Type can be overstepped by putting together elements of structures that would have otherwise not been referred to in the same breath, to form a whole new type of structure. He gives an example of the Modena Cemetery, which seems to have been put together as a result of a combination of elements of a cemetery, a house a city and a tomb.
The ability of architecture to be autonomous, has enabled it to introduce to us several aspects of the world that may have not been in existence before, but ones which we can readily identify with. He describes this with an example of a Venice painting by Canaletto, which brings into focus the ability of architecture and art in general, to be autonomous.
The author also appeals to the ability of architecture to be analogous. This means that various forms of the art can be compared with each other in several ways (Portney, 2005). For instance, the Palladian project which puts together the Basilica Palladiana, the Rialto Bridge, and Palazzo Chiericati have been closely put together in a way that has enabled the painter to portray to us his observation of urban concept that exists in all of them. These three monuments have been constructed in an analogous way. Their placements within the project then bring to us the presence of a city that is purely made of architectural values.
The two articles by Moneo and Vidler have a close correlation to the way in which there is a lot of history that is enshrined in the many types and forms of architecture that exist. This is made more noticeable by the fact that they were written around the same time, and both seem to emphasize the importance of typology in the definition of architecture.
The prehistoric period refers to a time in the past mostly during the origin and evolution of children (Mathew, 2011). Most of the occurrences and the things that existed during this period were not recorded or well documented. This is due to the fact that humans themselves were still evolving and even those inventions that would have helped in the preservation of these historic occurrences had not been invented and discovered. Most of the cultures that existed during those days are now referred to as ‘primitive'. The prehistoric age is often divided into three main categories. The names that are given to these categories often refer to the materials that were mainly used for the making of various tools. Therefore, there is the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.
One of the earliest artifacts of the prehistoric period that have been documented is those that were done by the Homo erectus. Some of them include; pottery, rock art, beads, cave paintings. As has been stated, the materials that were used during these periods were mainly those that were used for the naming of those periods. However, most of these that have been named here began to appear in the later years (Mathew, 2011). Those that came before were seen to be extremely primitive and backdated. They were quite simple and used very simple material for their making. It was not until the Paleolithic period that the first improved artworks began to surface. These were in the form of pictures and carvings. Rock art later came into being during a period that is known as Mesolithic. As for the culture of the pre historic human beings, according to the records, the very first time that human beings wore clothes is dated back one hundred and twenty years ago (Portney, 2005). The very first evidence of human existence was gathered in Ethiopia and this took place over 195 thousand years ago. Around forty thousand years after the human beings began donning clothes, perforated sea beads were found in morocco. Ten thousand years later, there was the first evidence of abstract art, which were still found in Africa, in South Africa. Humans began domesticating animals only ten thousand years ago and the very first animal reported to have been domesticated were sheep.
Whenever the art of their ancient Egypt is mentioned, it often refers to sculpture, paintings and architecture. These were art works that were recorded to have been taking place in the Nile Valley between the years of 3000 BC and 100 AD(Smith & Simpson, 1998). Most of the art works that were done by the ancient Egyptians were often depictions of gods, heroic battles, nature as well as the normal lives of human beings. This may have been the very first artists in the world that thought about methods through which their various forms of art world be preserved. This is perhaps the reason that the Egyptian art works are the ones that are most commonly found in exhibitions and preservation areas.
One of the most famous forms of artworks from the ancient Egyptians was the hieroglyphics. These were often certain drawings each of which contained various meaning that were understood by those who drew them as well as those they were supposed to communicate to. Due to the clarity of their works and the fact that they used material that lasted for a very long time, there is a lot about the culture and the history of Egypt that can often be derived from their art work. One of these especially is the way in which they believed in and worshiped many kinds of gods. The artworks also tell of the various kinds of royalty that existed in Egypt and the significance that each of them had in the society, such as pharaohs and other gods.
These hieroglyphics, as well as many other preserved works were done in the form of paintings. These paintings would be found in various places, such as paper, tombs, palaces, temples et cetera (Smith & Simpson, 1998). Those surfaces that were soft were painted using white wash, while those that were harder to use with whitewash were painted using limestone's and mud plaster. The artists used mineral pigments in order to make sure that the art works lasted long. Despite the fact that many of these paintings were preserved due to the fact that long lasting material was used, they were also able to survive due to the fact that Egypt generally has a dry climate. Most paintings are often destroyed by water from rain or other sources, which were not very rampant in ...