sociology of architecture

Examples of sociology of architecture in the following topics:

• Environmental Context of Architecture

• Sociological Videos

  • The following are videos - including fiction movies, non-fiction documentaries and recorded lectures - examining topics in the field of sociology.
  • See this link for a sortable table of sociological videos: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology/Sociological_Videos

• Architecture

  • In its purest form, neoclassicism is a style principally derived from the architecture of Classical Greece and Rome.
  • It is also recognizable in the classicizing vein of Late Baroque architecture in Paris.
  • It is a robust architecture of self-restraint, academically selective now of "the best" Roman models.
  • These models were increasingly available for close study through the medium of architectural engravings of measured drawings of surviving Roman architecture.
  • Discuss the characteristics of the "Louis XVI style" and the Directoire style of Neoclassical architecture in France.

• Academic Architecture

  • "Beaux Arts" describes the architectural style of over two centuries of instruction under academic authority: first, of the Académie royale d'architecture (1671–1793), then, following the French Revolution, the Architecture section of the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
  • The style of instruction that produced Beaux-Arts architecture continued without major interruption until 1968.
  • The Beaux-Arts style had widespread influence outside of France, including on the architecture of the United States in the period from 1880-1920.
  • Beaux-Arts training made great use of agrafes (clasps that links one architectural detail to another), interpenetration of forms, "speaking architecture" (architecture parlante) in which supposed appropriateness of symbolism could be taken to literal-minded extremes.
  • After centuries of dominating architectural schools and training processes, the Beaux-Arts style began fade in favor of Modernist architecture and the International Style on the eve of World War I.

• Rococo Architecture

  • 18th century Rococo architecture was a lighter, more graceful, yet also more elaborate version of Baroque architecture.
  • Rococo architecture, as mentioned above, was a lighter, more graceful, yet also more elaborate version of Baroque architecture, which was ornate and austere.
  • Whilst the styles were similar, there are some notable differences between both Rococo and Baroque architecture, one of them being symmetry, since Rococo emphasized the asymmetry of forms, whilst Baroque was the opposite.
  • Other elements belonging to the architectural style of Rococo include numerous curves and decorations, as well as the usage of pale colors.
  • Rococo architecture also brought significant changes to the building of edifices, placing an emphasis on privacy rather than the grand public majesty of Baroque architecture, as well as improving the structure of buildings in order to create a more healthy environment.

• Forms of Sociological Practice

  • While there remains considerable debate within sociology about the best function or purpose of sociological practice, three primary approaches provide the foundational cues for contemporary sociological practice.
  • Despite the fact that each of these views has been evident within sociological practices throughout the history of the discipline (as well as within and between other academic disciplines), they have become the source of heated debates throughout the last three decades.
  • Rather than taking sides in these debates, we thus provide introductory descriptions of these three major approaches to sociological practice, and encourage students to consider the pros and cons of each approach.

• Italian Architecture 1200-1400

  • The Gothic style was the leading architectural style in Italy during this time period.
  • The stained glass windows that seemed to replace walls altogether are the hallmark of French Gothic architecture.
  • The Florence Cathedral is a great example of the Gothic style in Italy.
  • The interior of the Cathedral, including the groin vaults and pointed arches, demonstrates the Gothic elements of its architecture quite clearly.
  • Discuss the architecture of Florence, Italy, during the Middle Ages and the architecture of the Florence Cathedral

• European Expressionist Architecture

  • Expressionist architecture was a European movement of the twentieth century that came about in parallel with the expressionist visual and performing arts.
  • Expressionist architecture was an architectural movement that developed in Europe during the first decades of the twentieth century in parallel with the expressionist visual and performing arts.
  • Today the meaning has broadened even further to refer to architecture of any date or location that exhibits some of the qualities of the original movement such as: distortion, fragmentation, or the communication of violent or over-stressed emotion.
  • While the movement was very broad, some points can be found as recurring in works of Expressionist architecture, and are evident in some degree in each of its works:
  • While art nouveau had an organic freedom with ornament, expressionist architecture strove to free the form of the whole building instead of just its parts.

• Conflict Theory

  • Provide an overview of conflict theory, including its most prominent theorists.

• The Postmodernist Perspective