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Dwelling: Architectures of Space (ABPL70001)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5On Campus (Southbank)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Faculty of the VCA and MCM Student Centre
Ground Floor, Elisabeth Murdoch Building (Bldg 860)
Southbank Campus
234 St Kilda Road, Southbank, 3006
Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Throughout its history, philosophy has described itself as a form of architectural edifice, systematically relying on the metaphors of foundations, construction and deconstruction, while architecture would seem (until recently at least) quasi-inconceivable without recourse to the metaphysical oppositions of inside/outside, ground/surface, substance/quality, and essence/accident. Yet, though this “inter-referential” relationship between philosophy and architecture plays a defining role for both disciplines, the basis of their connection remains an open question.
This subject proposes to examine the interrelation of architecture and philosophy—as well as design—as different ways of thinking and fashioning space, spatiality and subjectivity. As the diagrammatic tracing of lines, loci and interconnections, all three undertakings (architecture, philosophy and design) involve the plotting of forces that inform specific cultural constellations of power and knowledge. The palace of Versailles, the Crystal Palace, and Liebeskind’s Jewish Museum in Berlin are but a few of the constructions that will serve as case-studies during the course, as read in conjunction with the work of philosophers such as Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Benjamin, Lefebvre, Virilio, Foucault, Derrida and Deleuze.
We will pay particular attention to cinematic representations, as well as culturally diverse understandings of architectures of spatiality.
Intended learning outcomes
This subject develops students capacities to engage with concepts of space in contemporary theories of design and architecture; gain an understanding of the different cultural representations of space;
And develop understandings of how subjectivity and identity is formed within material configurations. Students are introduced to a range architectural and design based concepts available to translation and transformation into other art and cultural idioms.
Generic skills
On completing this subject students will have:
• the ability to communicate, cooperate and collaborate in a range of cultural contexts internationally;
• a deep awareness of and respect for cultural differences, protocols and aspirations;
• the ability to generate and promote intercultural dialogue through the arts;
• an ability to initiate research projects and develop highly innovative and experimental modes of representation and communication;
• a high level of understanding and appreciation of transnational practices across the art form;
• the capacity to interpret and translate into clear English a range of discipline-specific vocabularies and languages ;
• a capacity for innovative and original thinking marked by well-developed and flexible problem-solving abilities;
• the capacity to clearly communicate the results of research and scholarship by oral and written communication;
• a profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, and for the ethics of research and scholarship;
• a capacity to cooperate and collaborate with people across all national, social and cultural divides.
Last updated: 3 November 2022