The radio-ridden villas of the Sussex coast

They are all over England, these models of civilised buildings, and of later years we have been turning to them again in our convalescence from the post-war Corbusier plague that has passed over us, leaving the face of England scarred and pitted, but still recognizable. For ten or fifteen years we all had the pest-mark scrawled across our doors and the watchman cried nightly: ‘Bring out your dead!’ From Tromso to Angora the horrible little architects crept about – curly-haired, horn-spectacled, volubly explaining their ‘machines for living.’ Villas like sewage farms, mansions like half-submerged Channel steamers, offices like vast bee-hives and cucumber frames sprang up round their feet, furnished with electric fires that blistered the ankles, windows that blinded the eyes, patent ‘sound-proof’ partitions which resounded with the rattle of a hundred typewriters and the buzzing of a hundred telephones. In England we have an artistic constitution which can still put up a good fight; our own manifold diseases render us impervious to many microbes which work havoc upon the sounder but slighter races. We suffered less from the concrete-and-glass functional architecture than any country in Europe. In a few months our climate began to expose the imposture. The white flat walls that had looked as cheerful as a surgical sterilizing plant became mottled with damp; our east winds howled through the steel frames of the windows. The triumphs of the New Architecture began to assume the melancholy air of a deserted exhibition, almost before the tubular furniture within had become bent and tarnished. It has now become par excellence the style of the arterial highroads, the cinema studios, the face-cream factories, the tube stations of the farthest suburbs, the radio-ridden villas of the Sussex coast. We have had a fright – a period of high fever and delirium, a long depression, and now we are well on the way to recovery. We are again thinking of stone and brick and timber that will mellow and richen with age, and we have instinctively turned to the school in which our fathers excelled.

Evelyn Waugh, A Call to the Orders, 1938

Waugh, Evelyn, and Donat Gallagher. 

The essays, articles and reviews of Evelyn Waugh.  

London: Methuen, 1983, 216

Another beige world

Look. What's Happened to Auckland!

In ten years the number of overseas visitors has doubled.

Fortunately, the tourist facilities have expanded in quantity and quality to satisfy the sophisticated expectancies of the new arrivals.

We date the initial breakthrough from the opening of the 427-room Sheraton in 1983. Its stunning beige marble and brass lobby with an elegant indoor fountain would win applause anywhere.

And, my dear, there was an indoor/outdoor swimming pool with a Jacuzzi bath, saunas, and exercise room on the second floor!

John W and Bobbye Lee Hughes McDermott.

How to get lost and found in upgraded New Zealand.  

Honolulu, Hawaii: ORAFA Publishing, 1986, 1.

Captain Sensible with Dolly Mixture.

Who could ask for anything more?

She's so modern

It hardly seems possible that it should be necessary for me to define the meaning of a
word so common to the tongues of this generation as “modern.” Yet the word is often misinterpreted, and I desire to have it distinctly understood that, when I make use of the word modern in the following pages, I use it in its true meaning. The correct definition of modern is: characteristic of today. It in no sense implies that which is radical and cannot possibly be considered as synonymous to futuristic and other words of a similar suggestion. To avoid any misunderstanding, therefore, I prefer to call myself, along with those whose work is illustrated in this book, a progressive rather than a modernist, in order that we may not be confused with that school of radicals whose efforts to create and to be original have their incentive solely in “doing something different.”

A great many people, including not a few members of the architectural profession, are of the opinion that “modern architecture” is a sort of outburst of a certain group of radically-minded architects to gain the center of the stage by “doing something different.” Actually, modern architecture is not a mere fancy or passing fad. We have now become accustomed to modern music, to modern painting, to the modern drama and even to modern women. Modern architecture is a logical development. Rather than being a mistake, caused by not heeding the proverbial words, “look before you leap,” modern architecture has been actually forced upon us, whether we like it or not. The last of the arts to yield to the demands of the times, architecture, fighting against it to the end, has finally been obliged to succumb.

Randolph Williams Sexton

The Logic of Modern Architecture

Architectural Book Publishing Company

New York

1929

p1

Crossing the Red Sea with Alex Müller

Sometimes, you post things on Internet, things you think are wonderful, things you want to share, things like this piece of film:



Then people come to your website and are astonished by your film, by what it says about nature. Your film makes many happy.

And then along comes Alex Müller.

You see the thing about Alex, don't you? Alex knows better than everyone else. Alex posts after everyone else, so that Alex can have the last word.  Alex has a Facebook page. His pictures speak a thousand words. There are many Alex Müllers on Internet. They help make it a more miserable place.


Speaking of raw footage, here are The Adverts on 25th May1977 at Sussex University. Star Wars was realeased on the same day, if that sort of thing matters to you. This has been posted here to show you kids that everything you know about Punk is wrong. Note if you will, the absence of punks. Although the Adverts were playing support to the Clash on the now legendary White Riot tour, things are a bit quiet. This was a Wednesday night in Brighton and the usual crowd turned up.  Gaye Advert is probably the only woman in the room. You can see the "ferocious" performance by The Clash here.


This blogeur saw The Adverts in 1977 at Maidstone College of Art. The usual crowd turned up. It was one of the best nights of my life.




You get bonus points (and points mean prizes) if you can identify the source of the picture. It is a film.

Grey Lynn state of mind

Today is the day for the Fundy Post Quiz of the Day. The rules are simple: examine carefully this photograph from yesterday's Glucina and answer the following questions:

1) is that Sally Ridge or estranged wife Carita?

2) Can they be easily distinguished or do all these people look alike?

3) If one were one of these people, would it really matter with whom one went home, given that they are all alike?

4) Would the children know the difference?

5) Who is that large man who made the unfortunate decision to dress up as an Arab?

6) Could it be Duncan Garner, who always appears in the weekly Glucina?

7) Am I the only member of the twittering class who reads this column?


Answers on a postcard to the usual address. The Editor's decision is final. The winners may be announced at a later date, but don't hold your horses.


In the meantime, here is David Bowie again, singing that song again and telling a story about Steve Marriot.

Can't help thinking about me

NYM V56I Ayn Rand Enthusiast — Upscale male, handsome, successful, culturally literate, a high achiever who finds time for serious fun. Seeks classy, career-directed female equal. 20s-30s, 5'5" or under, with brains and beauty. If you share my passion for great books and ideas, stimulating conversation and rational, secular values, let’s talk. Recent photo a plus.

New York Magazine - 12 Feb 1990 - Page 117 

One asks: did it ever happen? Did he meet his 5'5" brainy beauty? Did he enjoy stimulating conversation and rational, secular values? Or is he still reading The Fountainhead alone?










David Bowie and the Lower Third:

Sex and the single room

News from University Hall, Auckland University's latest money-making wheeze (sorry, I meant to say "integrated student accommodation environment" or something like that, but I just couldn't) comes this  extraordinary  notice: "We have received several complaints of excessive noise of a sexual nature after 10pm. Although engaging in sexual activity is not discouraged, it would be prudent to note the accompanying noise may be heard by your neighbours. If you are unable to restrain these noises, we may have to ban sexual activity between 10pm and 6am."

Oh my; what is going on there? As this photo  – of an actual University Hall standard single room with actual students actually posing awkwardly – shows, the University provides scarcely enough space for a threesome. But perhaps everybody is so happy there that they just can't help hooking up and indulging in raucous rumpy-pumpy all night long ("Please note that you will have to supply your own towels"). But what will happen if the 10-6 sex curfew is implemented? Will students be bunking lectures in favour of afternoon delight? Will they be thrusting faster, faster, in order to finish before the 10pm deadline? Will they be abstaining all night long but setting their alarms for six?

And can we blame the architects? When Warren and Mahoney designed this building they were very proud of the bedroom units, which were pre-fabricated and then slotted together onsite. Perhaps the soundproofing qualities of good old-fashioned bricks and mortar have something to be said for them.

Feel free to share your embarrassing university sex memories in the comments below.




Roogalator; note the before and after contraceptive pill package on the front and back covers: there was a time when people, men mostly, seemed to think that contraceptive pills were that fast-acting. If you don't believe me, watch Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice.

Uses of literality

An essayist writes:

I have just recently watched the film 1995 film Braveheart directed by and starring Mel Gibson. The main thing that I noticed about the film was not the art or architecture, but the lack there of. In ancient Roman times, there was some kind of Roman architecture almost everywhere. Everywhere you looked, you could see some sort of statue or temple. However, in the film Braveheart there are hardly any. 

Since the people were spending all of their time fighting, they had very little time to work on art. Braveheart does not focus on art and architecture, but you can tell very easily how much the arts had diminished after the fall of the Roman Empire. No great works of architecture and literally no sculpture. During the time of William Wallace, the arts were not nearly as important as survival. The film shows the camps of English soldiers crammed into little groups of tents that are poorly organized. The little architecture in the film Braveheart is very meager and dull, nothing like Roman architecture. In Roman times, the Roman soldiers would build entire cities where they camped. In England and Scotland during the time of William Wallace, the people were constantly fighting a war for something, either to gain more land, or to keep what is theirs. This just goes to show how the arts went down hill after the fall of Rome. During Roman times, the Romans were not constantly worried about being overtaken by their enemies, so they had plenty of time to work on their architectural wonders.

You can buy the rest of this essay on Internet.




Belle and Sebastian

In every dream home a heartache

Architect 3D brings the world of 3D design within everyone's reach! The software allows you to easily draw up plans of your home and design its structure, from the foundations to the roof. From frames to masonry, electricity, heating, plumbing, and more. Design and view every detail of your project. You don't need to be an architect or building professional: Architect 3D provides you with all the tools and guidance you need to design your own project.

No it doesn't. Architect 3D gives you all the tools you need to make a complete prat of yourself. Building professionals and architects will point and laugh at your project, which they will see when you are obliged to ask them to save your project from itself. You see, they know what they are doing. You do not. Look at this kitchen. Look at those columns. Look at that "dining area." Try to look away; you cannot. It is too horrible to bear but also too hideous to ignore.

Now look at this plan. See how you would have to walk through every room to get from the front door to your bed. This is the design sensibility of a Victorian slum. Notice the facilities, clustered together in a state of mutual antagonism. Imagine your family and your guests struggling to negotiate the kitchen, lavatory and hall, while vast areas remain empty and ignored. And why is the garage door so small?

Now look at this house. Yes, it is a house, not a car showroom. Notice how the brises soleil are supported by struts because they not cantilevered: they are bolted on to the structure rather than integral with it. And it is no excuse to say that these designs are by French people. Non monsieur, this is a universal problem of design: people who cannot design have access to design tools and can make their horrible ideas real.






Roxy Music:

He's Frank, She's Pans/Demi

Most Privileged to least privileged….

1. White Straight Cis Male
2. Asian Straight Cis Male
3. Hispanic Straight Cis Male
4. Mixed/Native Straight Cis Male
5. African American Straight Cis Male
6. White Gay Cis Male
7. Asian Gay Cis Male 
8. Hispanic Gay Cis Male
9. Mixed/Native Gay Cis Male
10. African American Gay Cis Male
11. White Straight Cis Female
12. Asian Straight Cis Female
13. Hispanic Straight Cis Female
14. Mixed/Native Straight Cis Female
15. African American Straight Cis Female
16. White Gay Cis Female 
17. Asian Gay Cis Female
18. Hispanic Gay Cis Female
19. Mixed/Native Gay Cis Female
20. African American Gay Cis Female
21. White Tran Individual
22. Asian Trans Individual 
23. Hispanic Trans Individual
24. Mixed/Native Trans Individual 
25. African American Trans Individual 
26. White Pans/Demi Female (this is me)
27. Asian Pans/Demi Female
28. Hispanic Pans/Demi Female
29. Mixed/Natvie Pans/Demi female
30. African American Pans/Demi Female

The privilege hierarchy was compiled by Amanda, whom can call  Elizabeth. Amanda/Elizabeth enjoys a healthy and open vegan lifestyle. She has a boyfriend named Frank, with whom she lives. As you can see, at number 26, Amanda/Elizabeth is near the bottom, which is where you would want to be if you were compiling a privilege hierarchy. Shouldn't that be kyriarchy? Or perhaps not; it is all too confusing.

Life must be rough for white Pans/Demi Females, but worse for Asian Pans/Demi Females and turtles all the way down. The roughest thing about life for Pans/Demi Females is that nobody knows what they are or what they want. There seem to be no Pans/Demi males, which is probably a function of the kyriarchy.

Some of us might have difficulty with the notion of a white female who will be a junior in college in the fall being near the bottom of any hierarchy. Some of us also will be bewildered by the notion of a sexuality league table. The gender/sexuality/identity thing these days seems to be all about lists and rankings. And let us not forget the acronyms, and the stroke/oblique.  It is all a lot like the army.

Breaking news: Amanda/Elizabeth broke up with Frank, had this other guy and now she is pregnant; so at least we know that being a Pans/Demi Female does not preclude Rumpy/Pumpy.

I think this whole thing is scripted. It is probably one of those viral marketing campaigns; or perhaps a ruse to rile Republicans. I hope so. If it is true, it is all rather unfortunate.





Look Blue Go Purple; Lovely song, rubbish video: