'The Category of Tradition': lecture by Mark Cousins, 21st November, 1997

Extent: 1 audio cassette (90mins), 4 digital files (661 MB)

Comprises audio recording of a lecture entitled 'The Concept of The Renaissance', given by Mark Cousins on the 21st November, 1997. Recordings consist of a Maxwell 90 audio cassette tape, 2 digital preservation files (539 MB, .wav format) and 2 digital access files (122 MB, .mp3 format). Duration of access version: 51min 45sec.

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The recording is of the 4th 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 discusses the relationship between the traditional and the new, arguing that we inherit a number of misleading assumptions. He considers that tradition is not an obedient, passive repetition of actions but it is a competitive attempt to innovate. He also discusses differing traditions, in a range of societies, in terms of reproduction. Moreover, he analyzes tradition and modernity in western poetry and painting, including the work of Pablo Picasso. In conclusion, he claims that tradition should not be regarded as an act of immobility but as a wish to create the new by reanimating the previous model.

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, Autumn Term, Week 7, 17-21st November, 1997