'The Idea of Progress in the Arts': lecture by Mark Cousins, 28th November, 1997

Extent: 1 audio cassette (90mins), 4 digital files (683 MB)

Comprises audio recording of a lecture entitled 'The Idea of Progress in the Arts', given by Mark Cousins on the 28th November, 1997. Recordings consist of a Maxwell 90 audio cassette tape, 2 digital preservation files (557.5 MB, .wav format) and 2 digital access files (125.5 MB, .mp3 format). Duration of access version: 54min 31sec

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The recording is of the 5th 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 focuses upon the idea of 'progress' in the arts. Firstly, he discusses what he considers concepts of 'the past' and of 'progress' in history in a general context. Subsequently, he considers representing history as a process, as a moving from the 'simple' to the 'complex'. He emphasizes the idea of complexity as evidence of progress, from a centrally organized perspective. Other topics of discussion include the symbolic meanings of spaces and 'progress' in terms of the application of rules and concepts that have critical functions. Finally, Mark Cousins puts forward his notion of the relationship between an 'optimistic expectation' and waiting for new objects.

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 8, 24-28th November, 1997