ART 370 - Seminar in Architectural History

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as URBS 370) Topic for 2025/26a: Architecture of Commodity Cultures. Architecture, by definition, stores and protects objects of value. When substances are subject to spoilage, constructed environments can counteract the effect of time. When raw materials require refinement, enclosed spaces provide the control necessary for transforming them into marketable goods. How, though, does architecture express those processes? This course studies a sequence of commodities through the lens of the architecture where they are produced: precious metals; food items like chocolate, coffee, grains, meat, and fruit; cars; fuel sources from coal to petroleum; communications devices; and art. We analyze the spaces that perpetuate commodity supply chains, with a focus on exposing labor exploitation along lines of race and gender. Jonah Rowen.

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.

One 2-hour period.

Course Format: CLS