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Ball State University (Gregory)

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    Thesis is Fun!

    Gregory Dowell
    Dec 4, '08 11:46 PM EST

    I just completed reading and noting 18 articles and scholarly papers relevant to my thesis topic of memory, identity, and architecture. I'm knee deep in thesis since the final draft of my thesis proposal is due Wednesday. One might suspect after a long day of reading I'd be tired of thesis and my topic. But surprisingly (at least to me) I'm not, and I'm very much motivated (and its not yet the deadline causing such motivation since I still have 5 days).

    More specifically I'm looking at architecture as targets of purposeful violence because the architecture is "who we are - past, present, and future". And for my design project next semester I'm looking at the treatment of this damaged/destroyed architecture. Its all so complicated, deep, controversial, exciting, so on so forth.

    There are some who tell you that thesis determines what you do with the rest of your life. Others will tell you that is just another project. I don't subscribe to either extreme but as I continue to explore my topic, I'm convinced more and more that its something I want to continue to explore in my professional career.

    For all intents and purposes there is very little research on the means of treating this architecture. There is plenty of research on memory (collective, public, cultural). There is plenty of research on architecture as targets violence. There is plenty of research on preservation. But there is little, if any, research that looks at the convergence of all these areas and how architecture responds to the damage and destruction of architecture.

    So as I complete my proposal I look forward to sharing it with y'all. I expect there to be questions. I expect there to be controversy. I expect a little of everything. If I'm not pushing the boundary, than whats the point?

    As difficult and satisfying as its been to define the problem, I look forward to the challenge and reward of designing my solution next semester. Please continue to join me along with way.



     
    • 1 Comment

    • cln1

      Have you read Alois Reigl's "Modern Cult of Monuments" in Oppositions 8? (also in oppositions reader)

      It is a quick read, inspiring and relevant to your topic.

      Dec 5, 08 8:38 am  · 
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