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alegra
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Croatia
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 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:23 am Post subject: art historian in love with architecture |
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hello, i'm new here;
i'm finishing my art history studies in croatia, and have a particular interest in (both modern and contemporary) architecture; i was wondering what kind of work is there for me except writing about architecture?
i have written for some croatian architectural magasines, and found it quite unfulfilling, not interesting enough. So if you have any ideas, please post them here!
thanx  |
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lekizz
millennium club
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 1111
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:37 am Post subject: |
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| I guess everyone has to start somewhere. It sounds to me like you have already 'got your foot in the door' and that can only be a good thing! |
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alegra
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Croatia
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:58 am Post subject: |
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thanks for the reply!
yes, it's true, i have to start somewhere; however, i'm afraid that writing will soon start to bore me, since i prefer researching, exploring, interdisciplinary work etc. As you can see, i'm not sure myself what exactly my dream job could be, but the thing is that i don't even know what my options are... |
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ArchiMotion
Joined: 31 May 2008
Posts: 315
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| Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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How about combining travel photography with art history critique ? You could analyze the present nature/condition of architecture in specific geographic, / political / religious / economic contexts with respect to the past, in a sort of life journey of exploration of unique photography experience, combined with unique accounts of the spaces and tales never told or discussed under the vision of a photographer historian. You could then publish these for companies and make a living on this - even be hired by companies to do this.
I myself have interest in research, in writing, in photography and I think if I had a second life I would pursue this idea as well. I wouldn't even mind partnering with those interested in such a venture, as I am somewhat of an architectural writer, enjoy architectural critique as well. I think I could have some great ideas for us to develop together, or you may go on your journey alone, as you find convenient. |
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alegra
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Croatia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:41 am Post subject: |
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| to ArchiMotion - i've sent you a PM!! |
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alegra
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Croatia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: |
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i hope this is not a dead /finished thread 
If you have anything else to add, please do..
thanks |
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Richard Haut
millennium club
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1155
Location: Nice, France
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:52 am Post subject: |
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it is a very interesting problem - writing with photography is a very agreeable idea, but it would not be earning you a living.
logically you would be doing something like that alongside an academic job.
the only other way is to create your own job - for example as a website for a region or country which studies and discusses the heritage. The authorities may be prepared to back an idea like that because it helps them promote their area.
_________________
Richard Haut has worked with the architectural profession for over 25 years and produces the weekly Richard Haut's Competitions, which has given architects details of many thousands of projects for which they can apply across Britain and Europe. |
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alegra
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Croatia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:09 am Post subject: |
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thanks Richard!; however, i have to say that dealing with tradition, heritage etc is not something i had in mind. I'm more of a contemporary girl, reading and browsing all up-to-date info..I'm not interested in academic field or anything "academic". But thanks
also, the magasines that i have written in, are more of an old school, "elite" kind of magasines. not something a 20 year old would buy. It's just that there are no magasines that cover architecture+design+fashion+you know what i mean (in croatia). Of course, i have no money of my own to start/initiate something like this |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1968
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | i'm afraid that writing will soon start to bore me, since i prefer researching, exploring, interdisciplinary work etc. As you can see, i'm not sure myself |
A couple of things I'd like to comment on if you don't mind my opinion...firstly, the mindset for writing...anything...belongs in the realm of inspiration, unless specifically as a job. In other words, writing is a form of expression akin to painters and their paintings...if you find the subject matter boring it because you are not inspired by it. However, it doesn't mean you should not write about all the things that inspire you, whether it's for money or for the love of it. Secondly, I find that certain skills such as research, writing, investigation, documentation, organization, etc, are tools to be used in the profession you choose to work at. I don't think you will find many listings for job openings for "researcher"...there usually entails what the research is actually about, ie. nuclear proliferation in asia...or migrating penguins, etc. You get the picture. And lastly, having an "interest" in Architecture is one thing but then to limit your interest to "contemporary" architecture (not sure if you mean modern or Modern) really cuts out about 90% of the interesting nature of the profession. Which leads me to believe you are interested in the object, not the inspiration. Which may explain your lack of enthusiasm towards writing about architecture that you have seen. I would recommend a little soul-searching to determine where your intrinsic passion lies...then after those 5 minutes are up, get to work...any work that has even the smallest interesting aspect to it. After a few months, if you don't like it, look for the next job...what I'm suggesting is that you gather a little more experience in many things before making a final decision as to where you want to dig out your career. Best way to know what you want is to first experience what you don't like. My two cents worth...best of luck. First drink is on me! Cheers! 
mx2.5
_________________
*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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alegra
Joined: 10 Jun 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Croatia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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thanks mx2, i appreciate it!
it's not that i am strictly interested in contemporary arch., and of course that for understanding something new you first need to have a good level of knowledge of what was there before, what preceded it...And also i know that a "spark is a spark" - a renaissance palazzo can be as interesting and inovative and have that je ne sais quoi etc..just as a sanaa building...but i suppose i just (visually at least) love contemporary (and modern - just prior to contemporary, from A. Perret onwards) better. It's still alive in a sense, you can get a certain reaction out of it, respond to it (for example, Dance thatre in The Hague by Koolhaas that is being demolished (or maybe already is, i don't know) - you can raise your voice and try to save it, or at least to start a public argument about it..., while any monument from the past would never be (well, in most cases) even considered for demolishing). I don't know if you know what i mean, but that's what i meant when i said you can react and respond to changes concerning (modern and contemp.) arch.
Also, contemporary arch. inevitably has more influences, more references to, more parts of other fields involved in construction etc.. and that's also one of the reasons i like it better. it just seems "richer" in a way.
Pfewww, this is a long text, sorry  |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1968
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: |
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That is far from an epic...no need to apologize. Here's another suggestion, as it does appear you do have quite a bit of knowledge about certain aspects and history of architecture and a passion for part of it: write a thesis and get it published,...anywhere,...as an editorial perhaps. But go ahead and do other things for a living while you pursue your niche and discover your true calling in life...
mx2.5
_________________
*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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teamjdc
Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 311
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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This is tough.
I was going to ask if you've considered continuing your education and actually becoming an architect but I've got a feeling that the nitty gritty of the field will not appeal to you.
Then I wondered what you could do to complement your work and interests to make yourself marketable in ways that would interest you and I thought of psychology. If you were to get an MA in psychology you might have a shot at working with one of the mega architecture firms.
You might also want to explore Hollywood. Perhaps consulting on sets or developing a list of great locations throughout the world, securing exclusives with the property owners, and marketing them to producers and directors -- A location agent.
That last idea sounds really appealing to me and it's a free one. I just thought of another but I'd rather not post it publicly. It does involve teens and 20-somethings.
Do you intend to stay in Croatia? |
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teamjdc
Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 311
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| Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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hmmm
After I posted I googled ["location agent" movie OR tv OR film] to see what was out there and it's pretty interesting.
Here's one agent's site: http://www.worldlocations.com/
Maybe they're hiring. |
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solidred
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 623
Location: Scotland
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:46 am Post subject: |
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I think teamjdc above was indirectly referring to firms like OMA (Office For Metropolitan Architecture) and their formerly affiliated New York offshoot REX. Both are the brainchild of architect Rem Koolhaas. Of course, as someone who's already written on modern architecture, probably none of this is news to you. Still, what these offices in particular focus on, unusually, is in taking an interdisciplinary interest in the fields that architecture opens up: global branding, demographics, graphics, urbanism... and they're a truly international bunch. I know they were recently hiring architects specifically but they'd be the kind of firm to take an interest in someone who could conjure for themselves a unique job description.
For example, Rem's probably the most obvious inheritor of Le Corbusier's ground-breaking recourse to all and any forms of media dissemination (primarily well-designed books but also film, painting... the writer Beatrice Colomina, esp. in her 'Privacy and Publicity' is the authority on this and it's a title you might be interested in)... so what I'm thinking, with your journalistic experience is that you could perhaps develop a particular approach to writing as a sort of adjunct to architect's use of 3-D visualisation. Think of buildings as, say, movie scripts (Koolhaas started off as a film script writer in Holland) as a means to both work out ideas for complex building projects... as a way to imbue the process with a little 'zizz', heh and as a way to generate publicity about said process; sorta marketing and inspiration simultaneously.
Anyway, it's heartening to know that you're not subscribing to dullsville. Yet. Don't.  |
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teamjdc
Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 311
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| Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Yes solidred, that's precisely what I was suggesting!
Alegra doesn't sound shy and I believe that she can indeed carve out the kind of niche she dreams of. The key is a little patience, a lot of gumption, savvy and, well, balls to find a firm with the vision and resources to make it happen. |
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