'Baptism and the Loss of Names': lecture by Mark Cousins, 6th November, 1998

Extent: 1 audio cassette (90min), 4 digital files (662.7 MB )

Comprises audio recording of a lecture entitled 'Baptism and the Loss of Names', given by Mark Cousins on the 6th November, 1998. The recordings consist of a Maxwell 90 audio cassette tape, 2 digital preservation files (522 MB, .wav format) and 2 digital access files (140.7 MB, .mp3 format). Duration of access version: 1hr 44sec.

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The recording is of the 1st lecture in the series entitled 'The Name of the Object', given by Mark Cousins as part of the AA General Studies programme, 1998-99. In this lecture, Mark Cousins debates the issue of 'naming' in aesthetics and art. He addresses the roles played by names and the practice of Christian naming during baptism. Subsequently he focuses upon the performative nature of words and the authority to name. In addition to considering the existence of objects and their naming, Cousins argues that an object's ontology comes before its name, stating that this system of naming is a modern bureaucracy whilst baptism is retrospective. Finally, Mark concludes with observations on nominalism and what he regards as the loss of the real object.

Custodial History: Audio cassette recording was made by the AA Audio Visual Department and retained by the AA Photo Library until 2019, when it was transferred to the AA Archives.

Aquisition: Audio cassette was transferred from the AA Photo Library to the AA Archives in 2019. Digital preservation and access copies were created by the AA Archives in 2021.

Archive Note: Catalogue description by Samaneh Karimelahi

Publication Note: AA Events List, Week 5, Autumn Term, 2nd - 6th November, 1998