'The Locality of Thought': lecture by Mark Cousins, 14th May, 1987

Extent: 2 digital files (4.47 GB )

Comprises video recording of a lecture entitled 'The Locality of Thought'', given by Mark Cousins on the 14th May, 1987, as part of the conference 'Relativism', organised by the AA Graduate School / History and Theory Programme. The conference took place in the Main Lecture Hall, Bedford Square. The recordings consist of a digital preservation copy (2.81 GB, .MPG format) and a digital access copy (1.66 GB, .MP4 format). Duration of access version: 40min 28sec.

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The lecture was part of the two-day conference entitled 'The Relative and the Rational in Architecture and Culture of the Present'' organised by the AA Graduate School / History and Theory Programme on the 14-15th May, 1987. Mark Cousins is introduced by Roy Landau. Speakers included Stanford Anderson, Paul Hirst, Robin Evans, Roy Landau, Micha Bandini, Dimitris Fatouros, Janet Wolff, Jacques Boulet, Geoff Bennington, Julian Roberts, Judith Brine, Johann Albrecht, Michael Hayes, Jose-Maria Montaner, David Bell, Mary Alice Dixon Hinson, Josep Rovira, Marco Frascari and Andreas Kourkoulas. According to the AA Events List, the conference was based around "...problems posed by relativism in the arts and architecture today. Relativism riases the questions 'how to judge' and 'how to compare' which become central for the designer, critic or historian, in a cultural situation in which there is an absence of criteria for general agreement. This absence is conspicous in the contemporary cultural (and architectural) context sometimes referred to as the 'post-modern' condition... Principle themes will include: The philosophical problem of relativism; Relativism and the architectural agenda; Relativism and criticism.". In this lecture by Mark Cousins, the principal focus is the complicity between rationalism and relativism in art and architecture - which Cousins and Evans consider as shaped by concepts of movements and social relations. By emphasizing the significance of a connection between painting and architecture, the speakers perform a critique of the human system of thought and the perception of spaces. The impact within the architectural field of ideas relating to fragmentation, disruption and omission of perspective, through such movements as Cubism, are also discussed.

Custodial History: The 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: The recording was transferred from the AA Photo Libary 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 3, Summer Term, 11-15th May, 1987