'The Lectern': lecture by Mark Cousins, 9th March, 2018

Extent: 2 digital files (10.3 GB)

Comprises audiovisual recording of a lecture entitled 'The Lectern' given by Mark Cousins on the 9th March, 2018. The recordings consist of a digital preservation file (5.15 GB, .mpg format) and a digital access file (5.17 GB .mp4 format). Duration of access version: 1hr 11min 59sec.

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The lecture is given by Mark Cousins in way of conclusion to his 30 year series of Friday Evening Lectures. As the finale of his 30 years of Friday Lectures at the Architectural Association, Mark Cousins presents a discussion from the lectern. As a piece of furniture, it possesses historically an ecclesiastical sacredness, and continues to support what is called a lecture. Cousins takes apart the idea of a lecture into reading, writing, talking, reflecting, reciting, and drawing, which he classifies these practices in all as 'study'. He denies the act of studying being in parallel category with education, thinking, and working, but rather sees it as chains of associations getting into the mind. He further adds two more categories indispensable for studying: fantasy and courage. Study, he says, we don't do enough of it, and we don't do it well enough.

Custodial History: Original recording (format unknown) was made by the AA Audio Visual Department and a digital copy (.iso format) has been retained on the department's servers since c2018.

Aquisition: Digital preservation and access copies were created by the AA Archives in 2021, using the digital file held by the the AA Audio Visual Department.

Archive Note: Catalogue description by Ke Bo Tsai

Publication Note: AA Weekly, Week 9, Autumn Term, 5th - 10th March, 2018