In the years between the world wars; millions of people heard the world through a box on the dresser. In Britain; radio listeners relied on the British Broadcasting Corporation for information on everything from interior decoration to Hitlers rise to power. One subject covered regularly on the wireless was architecture and the built environment. Between 1927 and 1945; the BBC aired more than six hundred programs on this topic; published a similar number of articles in its magazine; The Listener; and sponsored several traveling exhibitions. In this book; Shundana Yusaf examines the ways that broadcasting placed architecture at the heart of debates on democracy. Undaunted by the challenge of talking about space and place in disembodied voices over a nonvisual medium; designers and critics turned the wireless into an arena for debates about the definitions of the architect and architecture; the difficulties of town and country planning after the breakup of large country estates; the financing of the luxury market; the expansion of local governing power; and tourism. Yusaf argues that while broadcast technology made a decisive break with the Victorian world; these broadcasts reflected the BBCs desire to continue the legacy of Victorian institutions dedicated to the production of a cultivated polity. Under the leadership of John Reith; the BBC introduced listeners to the higher pleasures of life hoping to deepen their respect for tradition; the authority of the state; and national interests. These ambitions influenced the way architecture was portrayed on the air. Yusaf finds that the wireless evoked historic architecture only in travelogues and contemporary design mainly in shopping advice. The BBCs architectural programming; she argues; offered a paradoxical interface between the placelessness of radio and the situatedness of architecture; between the mechanical or nonhumanistic impulses of technology and the humanist conception of architecture.
#1269489 in eBooks 2014-10-07 2014-10-07File Name: B00IQNYUOK
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Is it worth it?By Le LapinI really like the fact that so many american designers were highlighted in this book.Origin of the american fashion industry- really good overview on the times that shaped american clothing.The american look-High Fashion-really good chapter on the stylings of the time.Designers and Manufacturers of high fashion-Section detailing the designers during the era.Off the rack-from seventh avenue to Hollywood-My favorite chapter detailing the stylings of the era.Designers and Manufacturers of everyday fashions-exactly as stated another section detailing more designers of the era.Tops and bottoms-American hats and shoes-as stated a section on hats and shoes worn during that time frame.I have to be honest and say it took me a while to finish the book; even though its not a long book-It is boring.The author tells about a designers company in a short paragraph usually where they were located ; the years they were in business. There are some photos but not every designer has a photo of their work. This was the boring part of the book; It has paragraph upon paragraph of this info and that is about half of the book. When off the rack starts it goes more into the designing of the clothes and what types of clothing were actually worn.Its not an expensive book; and since we live in the age of Pinterest and google-it should be super easy to pull up the names and see if they have work available for show.Is this book worth it? Undecided; as I wanted more information about the styling of american 1950s clothing as opposed to the persons and companies that arose during that time frame. I do however see a fashion historian getting much more use from this book.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Concise book about 1950s fashionBy Debbie VintageDancerIn only 64 pages this little book captures the major historical points and American fashion designers of both high and low fashion in the 1950s. It is short and to the point and a good place to begin further fashion research and to keep as a reference. The chapters are Origins of the American Fashion Industry (good overview); The American Look- High Fashions (nice to read anything just about American fashion instead of French or British); Designers and Manufacturers of High Fashion (just a big list); Off the Rack- From Seventh Avenue to Hollywood (A less talked about subject which I love); and Designers and Manufactures of Everyday Fashions (another big list.)This is not the end all be all to 1950s fashion like Walfords Forties Fashion: From Siren Suits to the New Look by Jonathan Walford Reprint edition (2011) was for the 1940s but it is a start and one I am glad to have in my collection.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Fifties Fashion TrendsBy Joan KirschnerA great overview of fashions and designers who came to prominence in the 1950s. Excellent photos; too. I enjoyed it.
