Retrospective Project | Modernism and Propaganda

The idea for a modernist city was that it would create an ideal society. Modernists believed that the reason for social chaos was due to unplanned development and pieced together cities. Their cure for this epidemic was building cities from scratch and having full design control of every building. This, they thought, would rid society of social class, poverty, and greed. By building a perfect city, they would create perfect civilians.

Using the main gallery, this contribution to Modernism: The Age of Propaganda will install a collection of photographs, three dimensional models, and architectural drawings of various planned and utopic cities from the early to mid twentieth century.  The federal capital of Brazil, Brasilia, is the most obvious example.  Constructed in 1960, the giant city was supposed to demonstrate the awe and power of the modern Brazilian state.  Other examples include Le Corbusier's plan for Paris, Albert Speer's reconstruction of Nazi Berlin, Hundertwasser's projects in Austria, and Gaudi's Parque Guell.  

In addition to these visual pieces, we will invite Gary Hustwit, maker of the documentary, Urbanized, to talk about the modern global city and the newest innovative ideas in urban planning and design.

I hope this exhibit will display the use of propaganda through modernism.  One goal is to display the contrast between planned idealism and contemporary reality.  Another goal is to explicate what modernists thought a city should look like and display the pictures as reference.  The feel of the gallery space should match the aesthetic feel of the images.  Stark white rooms and sparse imagery on the walls will emphasize the feel of modern space.

Further reading:
Nathan Glazer, From a Cause to a Style
The Little Prince and Le Corbusier
Documentary : Urbanized
Benevolo, History of Modern Architecture (available in the library)