'Modernism and the Revolutionary New': lecture by Mark Cousins, 30th January, 1998

Extent: 1 audio cassette (90mins), 4 digital files (702.6 MB)

Comprises audio recording of a lecture entitled 'Modernism and the Revolutionary New' given by Mark Cousins on 30th January, 1998. Recordings consist of a Maxwell 90 audio cassette tape, 2 digital preservation files (573.2 MB, .wav format) and 2 digital access files (129.4 MB, .mp3 format). Duration of access version: 52min 48sec.

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The recording is of the 9th lecture in the series entitled 'The New', given by Mark Cousins as part of the AA General Studies programme, 1997-98. In this lecture, Mark Cousins puts forward a discussion of 'the revolutionary new' in relation to Hegelian and Marxist tradition and analyses the issues resulting from the weaknesses in their dialectic trajectory. He traces how theoretically and historiographically, the manifestation of a revolution, or the emergence of the new as a revolutionary process, has led towards catastrophic political consequences, illustrating fundamental contradictions within certain philosophical positions. Cousins argues that the revolution, or the new, under the agenda of Marxism, became a form of preservation. Mark Cousins brings ideas from a number of other philosophers, including Georges Bataille, to assist in examining different aspects to the Marxist idea of 'the new'.

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 Ke Bo Tsai

Publication Note: AA Events List, Spring Term, Week 3, 26-30th January, 1998