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HUMANITIES
(KT SUBMISSION)

AKHILESH VILIN
DHURKUNDE
I.E.S.COLLEGE OF
ARCHITECTURE, BANDRA.
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THIRD YEAR B ARCH

ROLL

NO: 17

ASSIGNMENT B
What makes up the experiences and characteristics of modern?
The modern is said to be a period of drastic changes in terms of
technological advancements, new ideas that influence the thinking of the
people, geographical causes contributing in the drastic changes colonial
powers etc.
Geographical clarity was marked for example the renaissance in Florence,
also Britain and Paris emerging as strong powerful nations. Making it
evident that the history shifts geographically. Also understand the trading
routes influenced the shift to happen. Under the name of colonization
nations like India and Africa and other colonies of Britain also became a
part of this movement and ideas like brotherhood, fraternity citizenship
was also imbibed by them.
With the rapid pace of development and the new ideas, a culture
developed. Industrial revolution, migration of the people to the cities for
work opportunities made the city as physical entity and we relate this idea
of a city to be very modern. The villages on the other hand come under
the traditional aspect. Thus a dichotomy is achieved between the modern
and the traditional. Also the fact that powerful nations like Britain had
their colonies that not only served as a market for selling their products
manufactures but also source of raw materials. This added to the
economy of the nation and also affecting the economy world-wide.
People started reducing on the ornamentation and paid more attention to
the simplicity of the built form in the cities. The functionality, materials,
construction technologies were given more importance. Techniques like
the printing, evolution of photography the concept of making it available
for everyone changing the perspective of people. We also understand
how the above contributed in development of visuality. A connection is
established between what we see, what we know, and what we believe,
having a tendency to always relate things to each other. A visual
response is created which is more powerful than something said verbally,
to the image we see. Every image embodies a way of seeing. The subject
of the painting or image is clearly depicted forcing our vision to see it only
in that sense or under that context. Now over the time the context under
which one would observe or look at the painting changed, thus the
information or the message to be conveyed from the painting is lost. With

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the change in perspective other issues pointing out the originality and
authenticity of the painting are also to question and think upon.
Broader ideas in terms of civilization, cultural values, purity,
beautification, urban development and the idea of standardization etc.
were made aware to the society. With the progress in science and
technology the implementation became possible resulting in changes of
the built form and thus changing the cities. The individual was given
more importance as compared to a village /clan. Sense of individuality
developed. Social forces that resulted in a uniformity of cultural ideas and
products.
This period indeed is marked by many changes and movements that
mended the thinking and perception of society. Rise of political power,
colonialism, industrialization, proliferation of mass media, logical thinking
and reasoning, change in approach to art, painting etc., led to the
development of new ideas, new approaches becoming different aspects of
this process of multiple changes.

ASSIGNMENT B

A structure which is taken into consideration is Museum

of Modern Art, New York. Also referred as MoMA. MoMA's contribution to
modern architecture in America began before it moved to its present
building. In 1932 Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson organized a
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major show of contemporary European and American architecture, under

the title 'Modern Architecture: International Exhibition'. The show, which
toured nationally, brought European architectural developments to a wide
audience in America. In the title of the tour and its accompanying book,
Hitchcock and Johnson coined the phrase 'The International Style': Since
then, Philip Johnson - who became the museum's first director of MoMA's
department of architecture, but left in 1934 - created a new wing in 1953;
in 1984 Cesar Pelli created a controversial 53-story residential tower on
top of the museum, to raise money needed for the museum's growth.
MoMA's midtown location underwent extensive renovations in the 2000s,
closing on May 21, 2002 and reopening to the public in a building
redesigned by the Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi, on November 20,
2004
The building purely depicts the start of modernism in
Unites states. The building also reflects about the time period it was built
in. It was a time when the world was facing tremendous transformation in
technology. During this time the construction industry was already
building towers. The new invention of building materials such as iron,
glass curtain wall were already taking shape.
Looking back to the MoMAs history. When it first
moved to 53 street. It was built in an International style building which
was one of its kind in those time in United States. The whole construction
was carried out in IRON AND GLASS which depicts the starts of the
modernism in those days. Later on as the modern time progressed
building underwent major renovation and expansion under designer Philip
Johnson. Later on during
rd

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the end of 20th century building got shut for the renovation again and was
open to public in November 2004.One can draw conclusion by looking at
the building and interior how the scenario of post modernism affected the
design.
MoMA's reopening brought controversy as its admission
cost increased from US$12 to US$20, making it one of the most expensive
museums in the city; however it has free entry on Fridays after 4pm,
thanks to sponsorship from Target Stores. The architecture of the
renovation is controversial. At its opening, some critics thought that
Taniguchi's design was a fine example of contemporary architecture, while
many others were extremely displeased with certain aspects of the
design, such as the flow of the space.

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