Political Influence and How it Affects Developments in Society and Architecture.

The political influence over artifacts is a topic that gives insight, for me, into the reasons architecture is built, societies and interest flourish or disappear.  As we engage in our most recent political artefact, our digital evolution. 

This blog is to offer a space for discussion, as I do not pose to have all the answers, but merely offer my discoveries to be open for debate and fact finding representation through this blog, an affordability of our times. About creations of the past and at times the present and how influences in society and politics have had a hand in shaping its ultimate outcome.

From political campaigns changing the landscape of politics, to Robert Moses bridge, the Panopticon of 1785 and the Guttenberg press.  All artifacts of change have a political nature influenced by society and the internet is definitely one that is still evolving with its ripples of effects on our developing landscape. To understand how it liberates and controls us by reflecting on how change has happened before and the resulting affects on society, may give us insight into our impacts on future constructions of influencers of change.

Robert Moses Triborough Bridge, now the JFK Memorial Bridge.

The Robert Moses bridge that was completed and opened in 1936 was designed and built to keep buses out of the park way of New York city and even though it was build almost 80 years ago it’s impact is still felt today. 

The changes in society and literacy that the Guttenberg press gave to people,   empowering people gradually through literacy.  Allowing opportunity and ease in the lives of people to have access to books in their home instead of travelling days to read the one copy available. 

Upon studying an art unit last year I was inspired by my new understanding of how the evolution of the techniques in art evolved as now famous artists broke from the rules of past.  When we design and explore and ‘break’ a mold, I find the excitement in not only witnessing this departure but also understanding its previous boundaries.  So I hope that within this blog that engaging with topics that I find interesting and discussing with people who are already engaged in conversation will bring about clarity of not only the past but the importance in making a change.

Gutenberg Press, 1436.

As man develops technology so does he become authoritarian of it, as Plato refers with his analogy of the captain of the ship at sea, "there needs to be a captain and a crew to get the work done".  (Winner, 1996)  So too with the invention and adoption of technologies, infrastructure, artwork and culture.  How we choose to interact with 'things' leads to its development and progression of it, discussion therefore allows us to instruct and enlighten ourselves to our influence on these manifestations. 

I look forward to in this blog, reviewing breaking topics and finding further background to the situations and how it is enmeshed into a history either to launch it’s departure of habit or understand why it is the way it is.