Essay on Proper Classicism

Essay on Proper Classicism Essay on Proper Classicism In reviewing the article â€Å"Proper Classicism†, the article’s lofty tone is well summarized in the second paragraphs opening statement â€Å"...the Howard Building at Downing College has been seen as a key monument in the current Classical Revival, which is being energetically promoted in certain quarters- especially as it has been designed by the self-appointed doyen of living Classical architects, Quinlan Terry. â€Å"Self-appointed† really seems to be the undeniable overture of the critique. As the writer drones on regarding academic architectural perspective, the reader is left rearing through a tidal wave of self-important ramblings regarding â€Å"etiolated Classicism... and Renaissance Greek inspiration. This article seems to embody the antiquated and elitist philosophies that often shroud academically embellished â€Å"peer† reviews. As every architectural detail of this college campus’s structure is analyzed, the review jumps from â €Å"Neo-Classical character ignored†, to Indictable Classicism, to a mention of the â€Å"Disappointing Interior†. Oddly enough, the interior is not â€Å"disappointing† because of its lack of innovation in use of efficient material, or design, according to the critic, it is disappointing â€Å"because of a lack of correlation with the exterior design and the essential crudeness of detail†. From the summary of this review, one is led to believe that the sole purpose of the development is to properly mimic a historic style and conform to a stylized concept. From a utilitarian perspective, this seems utterly ridiculous. Rambling on about the architects accuracy of a stylized perspective seems better suited for a lecture in art history than an architectural review. How are we to understand the ingenuity of the architecture or innovation of technical design, if all that is scrutinized is