• Journal of architectural history
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.45-54
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• 2015

This research aims at a critical discourse on the relation between the concepts of the uncanny and posthistoire, on the basis of descriptions in The Architectural Uncanny (1992) by Anthony Vidler. For the purpose, Histories of the Immediate Present (2008), another book by Vidler that discusses posthistoire philosophy to which he is not positive, is also investigated along with the former thesis; and various publications related to the themes by the influential writers such as Freud, Lyotard, Vattimo, and Habermas are referred to, too. Firstly, this paper will illustrate an essential understanding of the uncanny, an outgrowth of the sublime, and the history of posthistoire respectively; and then analyse contexts where the posthistoire was mentioned in The Architectural Uncanny. In the 'Introduction' and 'Losing Face' chapters of the book, this paper argues, the two concepts are connected by the notions of 'repetition' and 'losing the classical facade' as well as the uncanny as 'a metaphor for a fundamentally unlivable modern condition'. Though Vidler's recognition of posthistoire in the two chapters are differently interpreted, each as 'the emptiness of capitalism' and 'the decomposition of representation', both can be understood in terms of 'modernity' that is 'still open'. If modernity is 'an unfinished project' as maintained by Habermas, who Vidler relies on, we need to continue innovative experiments and internal investigations in architectural creation beyond the categories of modernism and postmodernism.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.164-173
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• 2013

This study aims to analyze the aesthetic thought and expression tendency appeared in contemporary architecture by looking at today's architectural art based on the concept of the uncanny that Sigmund Freud contended as an aesthetic principle, of the aesthetic concepts tossed around to define the contemporary times in the aesthetics field and discuss the architectural analysis possibility of the concept of the uncanny. The generation structure of the uncanny that generates experiences of fear and surprise is classified into dual structure, trauma, threatening structure, and repetition compulsion. This is the principle that evokes a sense of experiencing subject, incorporates sensibility, and vitalizes internal process. This is also the methodology to organize and structure the concept of the uncanny. When seen from the four factors drawn from the concept of the uncanny and aesthetic expressions, the uncanny expression characteristics of contemporary architecture includes isolation, subversion, trace, absence, oblique line, flotation, concealment, and disturbance. Isolation and subversion refers to producing the space of the pressure of tension and relaxation caused by repression and relief from repression and eliciting the maximum expansion of the sense of space through spatial change. Trace and absence indicates being able to elicit more intense emotions from the experiencing subject by applying the images of alienation and absence in the way to reproduce historical trauma. This happens by implementing the potential value of physical activity. Oblique line and flotation means visual impulse. This happens in the way to visualize uneasy points. This causes uncanny by threatening the survival. Finally, concealment and disturbance refers to creating unpredictable space. The concept of masquerade and maze space composition are applied in the way to activate spatial perception, including space exploration and unintended subject's forced selection. As stated above, the uncanny expression characteristics shown in contemporary architecture can be presented as indicators that are available to analyze the undecided and diversified contemporary architecture aesthetically. In this respect, this study has great significance.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.14 no.3 s.43
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• pp.7-21
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• 2005

This paper is an attempt to find/make an entrance to John Hejduk's architecture. Based explicitly on both Karl Popper's model of knowledge production called 'conjecture and refutation' and Harold Bloom's theory of poetry called 'revisionism', this paper, in order to produce a new problem, mainly deals with an existing knowledge as an object to refute, that is, Michael Hays' interpretation of Wall House by Jacques Lacan's notion of the gaze, Hejduk's a pivotal architectural finding. The arguments underlying this paper are two: First, Hejduk, just like this paper, follows Popper's model and Bloom's theory in conducting his own architectural research. Secondly, he takes what might be called artist's attitude when absorbing previous knowledge and producing new one. These two arguments are made in the first part and then served as a basic propositions for further arguments. In the process of criticizing the way in which Hays explicates Hejduk's Wall House, this paper reaches two main arguments. First, Lacan's notion of the gaze is not proper specifically for the explication of it. However, it may be useful and even promising when dealing with other works such as Subject/Object and House of the Inhabitant Who Refused to Participate. Secondly, Freud's notion of 'uncanny', arguably Hejduk's strong architectural orientation, may serve much better as a main gate among possibly many ones in trying to open his architecture. It is considered that this might also serve as an important clue to solving mysticism remaining yet untouched in his architecture.