Symptomatic Reading of Architecture

Within the longstanding traditions of architectural interpretation, symptomatic reading is distinguished by its roots in Marxism and ideology critique, psychoanalytic models, and its emphasis on the productivity of reading form deeply, historicizing it, deconstructing it. While the general trajectory of this discourse stretches from Louis Althusser’s symptomatic reading of Marx in 1965, to Fredric Jameson’s crucial work on the political unconscious and theory as symptomatology, and Rosalind Krauss and T. J. Clark’s work on modern sculpture and painting, it is Manfredo Tafuri who is the most recognized symptomatic reader of architecture.

This seminar examines the foundational texts of symptomatic reading, beginning with readings of Louis Althusser, whose understanding itself requires a close reading of selected writings of Jacques Lacan. These readings will be joined with reminders about the importance of Walter Benjamin’s work to establish our core concepts. Selected theoretical writings of Tafuri will lead us to case studies of close readings of architecture. In more speculative parts of the course, we will extend our understanding of symptomatic reading with recent works in theory and architecture. The instructor will treat the history of this discourse and add to it a developing contemporary model of a theory of inscription.

This course is recommended for students enrolled in the Narratives Domain of the MDes program, doctoral studies focusing on architecture, and MArch and MLA students sufficiently prepared in theory.

The first day of classes, Tuesday, September 3rd, is held as a MONDAY schedule at the GSD. As this course meets on Monday, the first meeting of this course will be on Tuesday, September 3rd. It will meet regularly thereafter.