Sunday, May 17, 2020

About Marcel Breuer, Bauhaus Architect and Designer

You may recognize Marcel Breuers Wassily chair, but you know Breuers Cesca, the bouncy metal tubular dining room chair with the (often fake plastic) cane seat and back. An original B32 model is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City Even today, you can buy them, because Breuer never took a patent on the design. Marcel Breuer was a Hungarian designer and architect who moved with and beyond the Bauhaus school of design. His steel tube furniture brought 20th century modernism to the masses, but his bold use of precast concrete enabled large, modern buildings to be built under budget. Background: Born: May 21, 1902 in PÃ ©cs, Hungary Full Name: Marcel Lajos Breuer Died: July 1, 1981 in New York City Married: Marta Erps, 1926-1934 Citizenship: Immigrated to the U.S. in 1937; naturalized citizen in 1944 Education: 1920: studied at Vienna Academy of Fine Arts1924: Master of Architecture, Bauhaus School in Weimer, Germany Professional Experience: 1924: Pierre Chareau, Paris1925-1935: Master of the Carpentry Shop, Bauhaus School1928-1931: Bund Deutscher Architekten (Association of German Architects), Berlin1935-1937: Partnership with British architect F.R.S. Yorke, London1937: Begins teaching at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts1937-1941: Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer Architects, Cambridge, MA1941: Marcel Breuer and Associates, Cambridge (MA), NYC, and Paris Selected Architectural Works: 1939: Breuer House (own residence), Lincoln, Massachusetts1945: Geller House (Breuers first post-war bi-nuclear design), Long Island, NY1953-1968: St. Johns Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota1952-1958: UNESCO World Headquarters, Paris, France1960-1962: IBM Research Center, La Gaude, France1964-1966: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City1965-1968: Robert C. Weaver Federal Building, Washington, DC1968-1970: Armstrong Rubber Company Headquarters, West Haven, Connecticut1980: Central Public Library, Atlanta, Georgia Best Known Furniture Designs: 1925: Wassily chair1928: Cesca chair -- also known as the B32 Selected Awards: 1968: FAIA, Gold Medal1968: Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture1976: Grand Medalle dOr French Academy of Architecture Breuers Students at Harvard University: Philip JohnsonI.M. Pei Influences and Related People: Walter GropiusPaul Klee, Swiss artistLudwig Mies van der RoheRichard NeutraBreuer, along with Landis Gores, John Johansen, Philip Johnson, and Eliot Noyes, were known in New Canaan, Connecticut as The Harvard Five In the Words of Marcel Breuer: Source: Marcel Breuer papers, 1920-1986. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution But I dont want to live in a house which was in vogue twenty years ago.—Defining Modern Architecture [undated] ...objects have their different appearances as a result of their different functions. In that they should individually satisfy our needs, and not conflict with each other, they together give rise to our style....objects acquire a form corresponding to their function. In contrast to the arts and crafts (kunstgewerbe) conception where objects of the same function take on different forms as a result of variations and inorganic ornament.—On Form and Function at the Bauhaus in 1923 [1925] Sullivans statement form follows function needs a finish to the sentence but not always. Also here we have to use a judgment of our own good senses, -- also here we should not accept blindly the tradition.—Notes on Architecture, 1959 One needs no technical knowledge to conceive an idea but one does need technical ability and knowledge to develop this idea. But conceiving the idea and mastering the technique do not require the same abilities....The main thing is that we act at the point where something needed is lacking, and use the potential that we have at our disposal to find an economic and coherent solution.—On Form and Function at the Bauhaus in 1923 [1925] Thus modern architecture would exist even without reinforced concrete, plywood or linoleum. It would exist even in stone, wood and brick. It is important to emphasize this because doctrinaire and unselective use of new materials falsifies the basic principles of our work.—On Architecture and Material, 1936 There are two separate zones, connected only by the entrance hall. One is for common living, eating, sport, games, gardening, visitors, radio, for every days dynamic living. The second, in a separate wing, is for concentration, work and sleeping: the bedrooms are designed and dimensioned so that they may be used as private studies. Between the two zones is a patio for flowers, plants; visually connected with, or practically a part of, the living room and the hall.—On a Design of a Bi-Nuclear House, 1943 But what I value most of his achievements is his sense of interior space. It is a liberated space--to be experienced not only by your eye, but felt by your touch: dimensions and modulations corresponding to your steps and movements, embracing the embracing landscape.—On Frank Lloyd Wright, 1959 Learn More: Who is Marcel Breuer?The Bauhaus, 1919–1933, The Metropolitan Museum of ArtA Bauhaus Life: Is Bauhaus Too International for America?Marcel Breuer Digital Archive at Syracuse University LibrariesThe Harvard Five in New Canaan by William D. Earls, Norton, 2006Saint Johns Abbey Church: Marcel Breuer and the Creation of a Modern Sacred Space by Victoria M. Young, University Of Minnesota Press, 2014 Sources: Marcel Breuer, Modern Homes Survey, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2009; Biographical History, Syracuse University Libraries [accessed July 8, 2014]

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Theme Of Sight And Blindness In Oedipus - 797 Words

Sophocles certainly wasnt shy about the motif of sight vs. blindness. If youve got way too much time on your hands, go through the play and highlight words like see, sight, vision, eyes, and blind. Since this motif is symbolic of the pursuit of knowledge, you can go ahead add that word, along with terms like oracle, truth, prophecy, and Apollo, since hes the god that represents all these ideas. The Oracle of Shmoop predicts that your highlighter will run out of ink, and your script will end up looking like a neon patchwork quilt.Though this motif of seeing and not seeing is laced throughout the beginning of the play, it first becomes crystal clear when the prophet Teiresias hobbles on stage. If one of Sophocless†¦show more content†¦They highlight the fact that he has been marked for suffering from the moment of his birth. This expounds upon Sophocless idea that humans have no power in face of the gods. For some mysterious reason, Oedipus has always been damned, and theres n ot much he can do about it. The scars also highlight the irony of Oedipuss ignorance. Although his name blatantly points attention to his scarred feet (which are the keys to discovering his identity), Oedipus doesn’t realize his true identity until it’s too late. This ones on Jocasta as well. Youd think she might she might have clued in to Oedipuss name long ago and asked him how he got it. The Crossroads Oedipus killed his father, Laius, at a place where three roads meet. A fateful decision made at a crossroads, huh? We detect symbolism. Oedipus couldve run into his father anywhere along the Theban Way, but instead Sophocles specifically places the confrontation at a three-way intersection.Crossroads are a traditional symbol of choice in literature. Makes sense, right? You come to an intersection and you have to decide which way to go. Its probably pretty easy to see how such a place could represent all the moments of choice in our life. In a way, every second in ones life is a tiny little crossroad. Every small choice we make affects our future in someway.Of course, Oedipuss fate has been predetermined from birth. For their own mysterious reasons the gods have decided that its necessary for Oedipus to haveShow MoreRelatedOedipus Rex: Imagery of Blindness and Sight as a Medium to the Themes1218 Words   |  5 PagesIn the play, Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, an honourable and ad mirable Greek king named Oedipus rules the town of Thebes. He is left in mental turmoil and decay as his unknown, corrupt and immoral past is slowly revealed during his quest to find the culprit who murdered King Laius. The newly exposed past suddenly transforms his glory and respect into shame and humiliation. After he learns about his wicked past he stabs his eyes, which lead to his blindness. During the course of the play, referencesRead MoreOedipus Rex Is A Greek Tragedy Written By Sophocles1177 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus Rex is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles. Sophocles, through writing this work along with Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus, became a legendary tragedian, and went off to produce several other works. This classic tragedy held great influence over Aristotle’s six components in his work, the Poetics, more specifically, over the component of plot and character. The birth of Oedipus Rex since spurred countless famous interpretations, including ones by th e father of psychoanalysis himself, SigmundRead More The Role of Teiresias in Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pagesdestruction that Oedipus will encounter after he learns the truths of his life. Teiresias is also responsible for further developing the theme of blindness by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Lastly, Teiresias is ultimately responsible for imposing dramatic irony because of his great knowledge of the truth of Oedipus. In the play, Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the minor character of Teiresias is responsible for foreshadowing Oedipus’ fate, developing the theme of blindnessRead MoreThroughout most famous Greek literature, a great hero usually saves the day. In the story of900 Words   |  4 Pagesusually saves the day. In the story of Oedipus though, the good man with one minor flaw goes through great pain. This pain in the play Oedipus Rex is the focal point for the whole play. Almost every aspect of th e play builds up and foreshadows Oedipus’ fall from power, and entry into pain. Sophocles in his tragedy Oedipus Rex creates a mood of dramatic irony using the dualities of sight and blindness, and light and darkness. This dramatic irony highlights Oedipus’ hamartia and in doing so SophoclesRead MoreEssay on Sight and Blindness in Oedipus Rex1311 Words   |  6 PagesIn the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the themes of sight and blindness are developed in a way to communicate to the reader that it is not eyesight itself, but insight that holds the key to truth and, without it, no amount of knowledge can help uncover that truth. Some may define insight as the ability to intuitively know what is going to happen, or simply as the capacity to understand the true nature of a situation. Both definitions hold a significant role in the play, not only for more obviousRead MoreThe True Vision of Blindness in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Essay959 Words   |  4 Pagesthey are blind to it. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles it is easy to see how blindness affects the transition of the story. It is said that blind people see â€Å"in a different manner† because they sense the world in a totally diferent way, such as Teiresias in the play. Oedipus Rex is a tragedy due to the content the Sophocles, the playwright, decided to include, first, murdering his father, king Laius, then marrying his mother, Jocasta, and ending by blinding himself. Oedipus has been blinded to the truthRead MoreOedipus The King Theme Essay1076 Words   |  5 Pages Oedipus the King: Themes of Blindness and Sight in the Sophocles Oedipus the King What does it mean to truly see? Do those blessed with normal vision really see? Oedipus the King by Sophocles’ is intertwined with many powerful themes and messages, establishing what real vision and real sight are. Sophocles’ play also demonstrates that sometimes in life we have to experience great loss in order to rediscover our true selves. In Oedipus’s quest for truth, lack of self-control, ignoranceRead MoreTheme Of Blindness In Trifles And Oedipus744 Words   |  3 Pagesacknowledge the truth or not, but there are some that are blinded to the truth. In the dramas Trifles by Susan Glaspell and Oedipus by Sophocles, Both having some type of blindness as their theme. While using the theme of blindness, the authors try to teach that the truth could sometimes be right in plain sight. In Trifles, you start to see the theme of blindness in Henry,Lewis and George during their investigation of the death of John Wright. An example of this occurs during the scene whereRead More Blindness In Oedipus The King Essay725 Words   |  3 Pages Blindness plays a two-fold part in Sophoclesamp;#8217; tragedy amp;#8220;Oedipus the King.; First, Sophocles presents blindness as a physical disability affecting the auger Teiresias, and later Oedipus; but later, blindness comes to mean an inability to see the evil in oneamp;#8217;s actions and the consequences that ensue. The irony in this lies in the fact that Oedipus, while gifted with sight, is blind to himself, in contrast to Teiresias, blind physically, but able to see the evil to whichRead MoreFree Oedipus Essays : Forms Of Light And Darkness1600 Words   |  7 Pages FORMS OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS IN OEDIPUS REX As a key theme in Greek literature, it has been mentioned that truly the only ones who can see are blind. Specifically in the play â€Å"Oedipus Rex†, Sophocles has focused on nurturing the idea that there is no requirement of eyes for having a real sight, as there requires an ability for seeing beyond the dimension of elements. As per Sophocles, one should not have the ability of seeing something, but one must have the ability of understanding it (Eskin,

The Importance of Organization in a Police Department free essay sample

The organization of a police department plays a vital role in the effectiveness of the police department. There are three major concepts you should consider when organizing a police department. They are as follows: area, time, and purpose. I will briefly discuss each concept as it relates to the organization and effectiveness of the police department. The area that any given police department is responsible for plays a huge part in it organization. For example, if a police department is responsible for patrolling twenty four square miles, then you might only have one precinct or division. A precinct, as stated in the text, is simply the entire collection of beats and sectors in a given geographic area (Dempsey Forst, 2005). One precinct may work for a police department that is responsible for twenty four square miles, but it would not be effective it if had to cover a bigger city, such as New York or Los Angeles. It would be ineffective and cause strain on the police force if they were to have one precinct responsible for a huge city. It would mean that officers would possibly take longer respond to emergency calls and there would be a lack of organization. This is why it is vital to split up the police department into different precincts, divided up by geographical areas. It allows the police officers to become familiar with the area it is patrolling. They would also have a better chance of becoming acquainted with the business owners and residents of the area, which will allow for better communication between society and the police department. Another major concept that one must think about when organizing a police department is time. This entails the scheduling of the officers, their days off, tour conditions, steady or fixed tours, and the common three tour system. The three tour system allows a police department to break up the twenty four hour day into three separate eight hour watches. It is the most common because the officers will only work eight hours, just like the rest of the society, and will not cause fatigue or ineffectiveness (Dempsey Forst, 2005). This is important because if you have officers working twelve hour shifts for five or six days of the week, they will become tired, thus losing their effectiveness. They may not have a willingness to go out there and stop crime if they do not have proper rest. Police department schedules and shifts may very depending on each police department’s responsibilities and personnel. For example, the Los Angeles Police Department employs officers on a twelve hour shift for 3 days a week. That give the officers four consecutive days off to keep morale high and an effective police force at it’s best. Today, more and more police departments are experimenting with a twelve hour for three days or a ten hour for four days shifts. Tour conditions also play a key part in how shifts are made up and assigned. If the majority of crimes occur during the evening or night watch, then a police department will probably have more officers assigned to the night watch. This will allow for officers to respond to emergency cars in a much quicker manner. The manpower in the days and swing shifts will take a hit, but fewer crimes occur during those hours so it will offset itself. Another factor or concept that plays an important role in the organization of a police department is the purpose or function of the police. What this means is that all members of a police department that are assigned to a patrol unit will be placed in the same division or bureau (Dempsey Forst, 2005). This also applies for detectives, special operation services, support services, administration services, and so on. Organizing a police department by function or purpose is important because you want to clearly define a police officer’s responsibilities within the police force. You do not want the same officer that responded to a domestic violence call to also lead the investigation on a homicide case. You want your police officer’s to focus on their respective tasks and responsibilities so that they will become more effective and comfortable doing their job as time passes. You make sure that the detectives do detective work and the patrol officers do patrol work. Also, when you place all the administrative and support personnel in separate divisions, you allow officers to perform their jobs without having to worry about training, budgets, finance issues, legal issues, clerical duties, internal affairs, or maintenance.