City in
Flux Essay
Introduction
How can modernism and ideas of unified visual language help
us think about the city in flux? We start from seeing how the city has
developed form the past as to it is now. From research I have seen that the
cities have vastly improved how it was in the 19th century as to it
is now. In the early 19th century there buildings that had no colour
to it and made out of old decaying bricks, as on the other hand in the 21st
century we are developing cities everyday with new materials and in a concept
way. City in Flux examines new modes of informal urban inventions in public
spaces that has emerged to it is now. So I will be talking about how the art
movement modernism has influenced the city in flux, as well as the visual language
aspects of the cities. Also I will research how unified visual language was
shown in the 19th century compared to the modern days. This will
show a good research understanding on how the people lived in the city from the
past to now.
Modernism 1900-1930
Modernist architects and designers rejected the old style of
designing based on natural forms and materials. They believed in new
technology, merchandised industry and modern materials that symbolised the 21st
century. Modernist principles spread with one of architecture were the Bauhuas(house
for building) located in Germany. This resulted in high rise block, flats and
buildings. The central teaching at the Bauhaus was a range of productive
workshops where students were encouraged to be multi disciplined and trained to
work with industry.
The style for modernism is that form follows function which
means the
principle is that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based
upon its intended function or purpose.
Modernism is a movement modifying traditional beliefs in
accordance to modern ideas starting in the 19th century to now. Modernism was
the development of modern industrial societies and the rapid growth of cities,
followed then by the horror of World
War I. Modernism continued to evolve during the 1930s and still developing in
the 21st century to a more futuristic and concept design.
Visual Language
Visual Language is a type of communication using visual
elements and by looking at an image or sign it gives you messages of what that
image or sign is about. The visual arts have their own visual language and artists
think this by using feelings. As for musicians they see visual language by
hearing sounds and rhythm in the city. Visual language includes lines, shapes,
colour, light and dark. By combining these elements the artist says it has a
style.
Early modernist created new techniques which unified text
and form by combining visual elements. Futurism had a breakthrough in these
techniques, which made it into a single message (Nagati & Stryker, 2013). The
city has many ways of visual language as time went by the people had a deeper
and more understanding of the city due to the modernistic designs and
architecture of city in flux. This can be done by looking at the typography
views of the city, as well as the rich and poor point of sides of how they
portray visual language in their views. Furthermore I would be writing about
the ways how the city is mapped out for people due to signage in the city, for
easy navigation, this type is way finding. On the other hand how people
navigate using map plan and how I could compare these two ways of navigating
round the city.
Main Body
Modernism has had a massive impact on cities in flux as now
the whole cities are turning into a modern design and art. As everything like
advertisements, architecture, people and the whole style is changing a
modernistic view, which we turn to visual language, as in the modern days the
message from the city is much more vastly than it was in the past. People who
travel around the city they see signs and messages around to guide them. Also
sound is a type of visual language as it would give you messages of e.g. when
to stop if a car is going past and when to go if there is crossing. As
modernistic designs have been provided for today it is easier to get around the
city by using the term visual language.
My main idea for the city is to look at the typography in
the city and how it would portray to people. There are many ways that
typography has been distributed and displayed in the city, some evidence has
been shown images around the city, as well as posters, flyers, billboards,
signage and much more. This is all typographic evidence of the city for the
viewers to see and get information of what can be seen in the modernistic ways
of the city and how it has been designed for eye catching purposes.
There is also the pathology of the rich and poor in the
city, how it’s modernistic and new on the rich side, as it is old and decaying
on the poor side. The visual language of both of these sides is differentiated
vastly, as it is clearer and more understanding in the rich parts of the city.
It portrays a clearer image and what the message is saying. A for the poor side
the typography gives a deeper message than the rich but more unclear, as you
need to look deeper into the image. There is more hand drawn graffiti and
painted by humanity on the poor side than the rich side, which is most done by
technology and high resolution cameras.
Way finding and navigation are two different types of how
people find their way and navigate around the city using different types of
ways. Way finding is getting around the city using signs and routes, like the
city has been mapped out for you on where to go in order to reach your
destination. The city has been designed in order for your help to get you
around the city, this was done by using typography which is, easy to read font
for the people travelling and the tourists. The idea of norms provides an
understanding social influence in general and agreement in particular. Social
norms are the accepted standards of behaviour of social groups. So in the city
people have different behaviours on what they see, as not all people would
react to the same as others. For e.g. a light and bright image would stand out
to people as, some would appeal to the image as some would not due to the fact
of being too bright or dislike bright images. So this way a person would react
differently on what the sign is saying to them, also by using this way it is
like taking risks as u don’t plan beforehand. As you would be going out without
actually knowing where to go before you set off.
Navigation is another way of how people get around the city;
this is done by planning out where to go using equipment like a map, atlases or
a navigation system. Everything is routed and a map-plan is made beforehand, so
they are prepared and know where to go and which route to take. It’s like an
adventure as you trying to find your destination using a map or other utensils
(city of dreams and desires). The map, atlas or other equipment will have to be
up to date and easy to read, as then it would be harder to plan and know where
to go. However, a disadvantage is misusing maps and navigation system as it
would be vital to have good knowledge of social geography.
Conclusion
From my research and referring back to the question I have
seen that modernism has a major impact and has been encouraged due to modern
technology to go further. Furthermore the visual language of modern cities have
a wider and greater message, as it as more different styles and different views
of how the message is portrayed. This point is backed up by published books, 1“the
very limits of modernism have been shifting and expanding, including an ever
greater variety of registers, stylistic, forms and genres”. Modernism is
growing and developing every day, in new and futuristic ways. As time
progresses the visual language would also get clearer and more effective as it
would be easier to understand and have a wider view to people.
