Trapnest, 1/29

The field trip downtown was most certainly interesting. While I don’t think we had enough time to adequately see enough of a variety of buildings, nor everything our downtown had to offer, I do think it began to put the concepts within our heads just from the small sampler that we did receive. I find myself passing by the buildings that I normally pay little or no attention to and trying to think of the concepts we discussed and apply them. It is both a useful way to study and remember the information, as well as mentally elaborate more on it.

For example, I found myself thinking, “Why do so many buildings relate to the past?” In reflecting on the courthouse, and the bank, both designs drew from classical or even ancient trends in architecture. I feel that for something to be valid it needs to relate to something that has already been established as stable, important, and “beautiful.” It’s almost a sense of anamnesis I feel, while the buildings do not (for the sake of this explanation) look exactly like what they are representing, they do evoke a certain emotion and feeling from within us. Upon looking at someone we may immediately think of “Roman Forum” which has a plethora of associations with it, such as “important” or “long-lasting.”

All of this occurring on the subconscious level I feel is also something very important to note. This is because there are all sorts of discussions on the effects of media upon viewers who are reacting to it on the subconscious level. Buildings have almost become a functional billboard, to continue our subconscious “training” with these companies in what they want us to feel and think when we look at their ads, buildings, and function.