Tall buildings , a representation of power in urban geography

Tall buildings and skyscrapers built during the 20th century in areas such as London Berlin and Rome go along way in representing power in modern urban geography . Geographers have become fascinated by how they represent in some ways the ultimate expression of capitalist financial power in urban space .(kraft 2009)

Figure 1 photo of London taken from on top of monument tower.  This photograph was taken on the 30/7/2011 by Rikki Murphy, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

The above photo shows a view of some modern London buildings such as the Gherkin building which was opened in 2004 . Buildings such as these show the importance of power in architecture . Architecture shows us and other countries how wealthy their nations are , weather its the size of the building or the fantastic designs on these building  every element of architecture sends out a message .

Figure 2  Olympic stadium Berlin .This photograph was taken on the 6/6/2012 by Rikki Murphy, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

When the Nazi’s came to power in 1933 Germany became a changed country . All over Germany large buildings were erected as displays of Nazi power.The Nazi’s used propaganda to gain the majority of their power and in 1936 Adolf Hitler used the summer Olympics and the Olympic stadium  for propaganda purposes and further showing the world his power .

Figure 3. The Colosseum Rome . This photograph was taken on the 16/6/2012 by Rikki Murphy, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Roman architecture is probably the most unique of all architecture around the world .Many structures can be allocated to the Roman emperors who created them . The above photo shows the Colosseum which comes to most people’s mind when they think of Roman architecture  . The Colosseum was built in 70 Ad to provide the locals with some entertainment and to keep the usually impatient crowd happy . The true power of the Roman empire could be seen as admission was free which mixed the rich in with the poor  sharing the same emotions during the most gruesome of gladiator games .

In conclusion we can see that many countries use architecture to express themselves , as a way of showing other countries how powerful and wealthy they are . This has being going on thousands of years as we’ve seen the Colosseum and the Gherkin buildings constructed almost 2000 years apart . it is clear that in the years to come architecture will become bigger better and a lot more extravagant although a lot a previous architectural structures will be hard to top .

Sources
————————————
P.Kraft (2009) University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
Photo’s Authors own 2010-12

Material Culture: Home entertainment

Author and Playwright:Oscar Wilde. Source: Chronicle of the 20th century.This photograph was taken December 2013 by Jason Collins, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Keeping ones self occupied during spare time has always been exceptionally important to people over the years many forms of entertainment have been used some becoming popular and others not. There are many reasons for this such as cost, simplicity, entertainment value and many others. Some forms of entertainment may be large scale and social such as Drama or sports and others may be small scale and private such as Art or reading. The type of entertainment I will focus on for my blog will be entertainment carried out in the home.

Marconi’s work with wireless messaging allowed ‘wireless radio’ tecnology to greatly advance. Source: Chronicle of the 20th Century.This photograph was taken December 2013 by Jason Collins, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

In the 19th and early 20th century the main forms of entertainment in the home was long established traditional forms such as Chess and board games, card games, reading and storytelling. Reading was exclusive to those who where literate for this reason story telling which was a social act was very popular. Many poor could not afford equipment for other hobbies which excluded them from art and other expensive pass times.

Newspaper clip showing the rise in popularity of the radio and its necessity as a material object. Source: Chronicle of the 20th century.This photograph was taken December 2013 by Jason Collins, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

However the late 19th century and early 20th century would see a unprecedented revolution in home entertainment. With the invention of the ‘wireless radio’ in 1879 the face of home entertainment would never be the same again. The radio remained the top form of entertainment and means of communication (News) well into the 20th century. At first only the well off could afford radios but this changed as affordable models became available in the 1920s and 30s such as the “Peoples radio” in 1936 which was funded by the Nazi government this showed how important the radio had become for governments to influence the public. In Briton the rise in income and the the successful BBC reached 10 million listeners in December 1925. The radio revolutionized home entertainment and although it was not affordable to all it was certainly available to all and became a community activity in some areas as groups gathered around the house of a radio owner and listened to important broadcasts.

An advert for an early television set. Source: Chronicle of the 20th century.This photograph was taken December 2013 by Jason Collins, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

However the most revolutionary invention and arguably the most influential was the television. The television was invented in the 1920s but did not become popular until after World War 2 when disposable incomes grew significantly. The television allowed the user to view drama, news, sports and learn which was revolutionary at the time usurping the role of many traditional methods of entertainment and personalizing it while also bringing it to the home.

A newspaper clip about Oroson Wellies ‘war of the worlds’ brodcast in 1938 shows the influnce the medium of radio had on people. Source: Chronicle of the 20th century.This photograph was taken December 2013 by Jason Collins, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

The BBC where one of the driving forces behind the success of the radio and television and many countries governments followed by funding their own broadcasting companies such as RTE in Ireland as they realized the influential properties of both mediums. This was also picked up on by advertisers and both mediums became the driving force behind the rise of the consumer based economy by advertising material goods.  The success of the television and the radio is due to the change in material culture and its relationship to entertainment at the end of the 19th and early 20th century driven by a desire for modernity and the rise in incomes along with a immense growth in technology.

Sources

Derrik Mercer et al. (1988). Chronicle of the 20th century. London: Longman.

Urban Architecture and Modernity of Barcelona

My third and final blog will focus on the modernity and the urban architecture of Barcelona. I was lucky enough to have visited Barcelona on a school tour in 2010 and I was immediately taken aback by the city, especially by its urban architecture. Barcelona is renowned for its architecture and its many famous landmarks and buildings. While in Barcelona we got a guided tour of the city and received a huge amount of information about the architecture of the buildings and about Catalonias most famous architect, Antoni Gaudí.

‘Unfinished Business’. La Sagrada Familia. Gaudí’s most famous building first began construction in 1882 and is yet to be completed.
This photo was taken February 2010 by Eanna Dinneen and is licensed under CC BY 4.0 

 

Antoni Gaudí’s is responsible for the design of numerous buildings across Barcelona. Many of these buildings are seen as extremely modern, yet Gaudí passed away in 1926 which means Barcelona was extremely modern in the late 19^th/early 20^th century with regards to its urban architecture. The majority of Gaudí’s work was based around his passion for religion, nature and of course, architecture.

Casa Batllo. Situated in the heart of Barcelona, Gaudí designed this building in 1904 for the Batllo family. This has been said to be one of Gaudís many masterpieces.
This photo was taken February 2010 by Eanna Dinneen and is licensed under  CC BY 4.0

Barcelona is quite unique from any other city, even in Spain, in terms of its urban architecture. The city has its own unique culture that sets it apart from any other city in Spain. The city first emerged as one of the most artistic and architectural cities in Europe during the early 20^th century. The works of Catalan artists such as Gaudí and Pablo Picasso are still evident in the modern city of today and are still being celebrated in many aspects throughout the city.

Above is a picture taken from the Christopher Columbus Monument of the Catalan Parliament building. The monument is 197 foot high and thousands of tourists enjoy the views from the top of it each day.
This photo was taken February 2010 by Eanna Dinneen and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

‘More than a club’. In the past couple of decades Barcelona has become more commonly known for its famous football team FC Barcelona. The Nou Camp is an extremely modern stadium although it was built back in 1954.
This photo was taken February 2010 by Eanna Dinneen and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Barcelona is an ideal European example of a city where urban architecture has had an influence on the people, culture and the modernity of a city. The city is extremely proud of its artistic history and sells itself on its artistic qualities and urban architectures. This is the main reason why Barcelona is a popular tourist destination for visitors from all over the globe.

Note: all photographs in the blog are my own and some information was got from notes kept from guided tours of the city.

“The Opium of the People”: A Marxist Perspective of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork City

A photo of the interior of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork. In the foreground, the lectern and pulpit are visible, just before the Choir. The Chancel is present in the background, along with parts of the Sanctuary Ceiling and some stained glass windows. This photograph was taken 16/12/2013 by Cathal Brennan, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, consecrated in 1870, is a highly considered work within the oeuvre of William Burges, an English architect specialising in 13th century French Gothic design. From a Marxist perspective, its architecture and furnishings are emblematic of the political-economic relations which formed the basis of its foundation, and have served to oppress the lower social classes through ideological manipulation. In the present day, the Cathedral has been reappropriated as a site of historical and cultural significance, alongside its role as a place of worship.

Taken from the North Transept on the other side of the Cathedral, this photograph shows the large stained glass work which depicts Jesus Christ surrounded by the Christian hierarchy of angels. The smaller circular windows illustrate Masonic symbolism. This photograph was taken 16/12/2013 by Cathal Brennan, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0 .

The original budget for the cathedral was to be £15000. However, by the end of construction, these costs had amounted to over £100000. Despite the devastating financial implications of the Irish Church Act 1869, which disassociated Irish Anglicans from the Church of England, Bishop John Gregg of the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross was able to secure funding from wealthy patrons such as  the brewer, Mr Crawford, and the distiller, Mr Wise. It also  received funding from the Cork Lodge of the Freemasons. The above photo shows a stained glass work situated above the Dean’s Chapel area of the cathedral. The work portrays Jesus Christ in the centre, with the hierarchy of the seven Christian angels surrounding him. The circularity of the design is typical of Gothic architecture; with no discernible beginning or end, the circle as a symbol is linked to immortality and heaven, and so the design impresses upon the subject that it is representative of the divine. However, surrounding the main body of work, there are also eight small, circular windows. These windows all pertain to Masonic imagery and symbolism. For example, on the top window, there is a pyramid; on the bottom, a compass scribe; the furthest to the left, a spirit level.

The large plaque dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Aldworth (neé St. Leger). This plaque is situated just between the Pulpit and the Choir. She was initiated into the Freemasonry in 1712, after she mistakenly interrupted a Lodge meeting. This photograph was taken 16/12/2013 by Cathal Brennan, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Furthermore, a prominent position by the Pulpit is given to the memorial plaque of Elizabeth Aldworth, the only female Freemason of Ireland. By reading the architecture of this part of the church, the political-economic power of the Cork lodge is apparent; by accepting funds, the Church was able to further the Cathedral’s construction; through its funding, the Lodge could imbue the Cathedral with its own symbolism and influence. The power relations between the Lodge and the Vestry, two ruling, dominant groups in late nineteenth century Cork, is thus expressed within the architecture.

The Lectern was originally designed by William Burges for the Cathedral of Lille. It is solid brass, weighs 900 pounds, and is decoratively adorned with images of Moses and David. This photograph was taken 16/12/2013 by Cathal Brennan, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

The above lectern, originally designed by Burges for the Cathedral of Lille, is adorned with images of Moses and David, and comprises of 900 pounds of solid brass. In a solely practical sense, it is used as a stand from where the Bible may be read. However, its ubiquitous design serves to frame the reading of the Bible as part of a visual spectacle. The Bible itself has a symbolic and social function, and is culturally related to the morals and power of Christianity. However, the lectern serves to amplify this authority and symbolism upon the subject. The sentiment of the reading is accentuated through the visual element of the lectern. Therefore, two inanimate objects, the Bible and lectern, work upon each other in ritualistic tandem with the aim of emphatically communicating the message of the Church to the subject. The subject, in the Marxist tradition, is engendered and placated with this message, and overlooks their exploited status within the capitalist system.

The walls of the Ambulatory, located behind the Chancel. Below the stained glass windows showing the life of Jesus Christ, there are photographs and pictures of Cork landmarks from within the last 200 years. This photograph was taken 16/12/2013 by Cathal Brennan, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

 

Currently, the Cathedral still acts as a place of worship for the Church of Ireland community. However, it has also recast itself as a site of cultural importance and heritage. A staple of Cork tourism, it receives tens of thousands of visitors each year. In the Ambulatory, above, there are paintings and photographs of Cork from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The presence of these objects render the Cathedral as more of a heritage centre than a site of worship, especially in the eyes of tourists.

Taken from the Gallery, this photograph contrasts the modern, gift shop area of the church with the Nave behind it. In the gift shop, handouts and documentation pertaining to the Cathedral’s history are available for visitors in 6 different languages. This photograph was taken 16/12/2013 by Cathal Brennan, and is licensed under CC BY 4.0

In the past, the Cathedral looked to foster the dependency of the lower social class in order to gain power and prestige through their exploitation. However, its principle focus has diversified to attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world who may be interested in history and culture. It’s rising dependency on tourism as a source of revenue is a result of rapid globalisation in capitalist markets, and is far removed from its earlier political and sociological economic dominance.

Bibliography:

Carey, Maurice, St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork (Dublin; Eason; 2003), pp.

McLellan, David, Marxism and Religion: A Description and Assessment of the Marxist Critique of Christianity (Basingstoke; Macmillan; 1987), pp.

Thrift, Nigel & Kitchin, Rob, eds., International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (Amsterdam; Elsevier; 2009), pp. 24-31

Vannini, Philip, ed., Material Culture and Technology in Everyday Life: Ethnographic Approaches (New York; Peter Lang; 2009), pp

Wilson, Christopher, The Gothic Cathedral: The Architecture of the Great Church (New York; Thames and Hudson; 1990), pp.

Woodward, Ian, Understanding Material Culture (Los Angeles; Sage Publications; 2007), pp. whatever

The development of Architecture in cities

It is clear that cities change over time. The world in 1914 was utterly different  from the world in 1815, “the tempo of change during the preceding century greater than in entire millennia before it”. (The times history of the world).There are huge differences in buildings and architecture between urban cities and cities in the past. For example if we look at the Colosseum in Rome.

” The colosseum in Rome”

source:  Personal photographs,Inter railing, 2012.

The Colosseum is considered to be one of the greatest works of roman architecture and engineering. The Colosseum is also a prime example of how experiences of living in cities in the past have changed. The Colosseum was built for gladiatorial contests  whereas urban architecture is built for different purposes. This example of the Colosseum shows us that people living in the past ( in ancient Rome) had different experiences of living in comparison to people living in the modern era.

In contrast to this ancient building, we can see how present architecture and buildings have developed and become more modernised.

“Sagrada Familia, Las Ramles, Barcelona”

Source: Personal Photographs

This building of a church in Barcelona shows us the developments in modernity. This building is much more modern in comparison to that of the Colosseum in terms of design. we can tell that is is a modern building by looking at the detailed infrastructure of the building. This again shows us how cities have developed and become more modernised over time.

In conclusion we can see that there are major differences between living in the past and living in the present. Not only is there massive differences in the buildings, there are also contrasts in the way people lived there lives. (For example people went to the Colosseum  to watch gladatorial contests.) In terms of differences between buildings in the past and present it is fair to say that modern buildings are built more efficiently and with more variations of architecture.

REFERENCES:

Personal Photographs.

Overy, Richard ” The times History Of The World New Edition”,October 4th 2004.