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052-0843-25L 2 Credits BSC D-ARCH

History of Art and Architecture: Spatial Histories of Cultural Displacement

Kunst- und Architekturgeschichte: Räumliche Geschichten kultureller Verschiebung

Lecturers & Examiners: PD Dr. Michael Gnehm
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:30:29

Abstract

The seminar discusses histories of cultural displacement in the postcolonial space.

Objective

Participants gain familiarity with the critical analysis of postcolonial discourse and its application to architecture.

Content

Inspired by Gayatri C. Spivak's postcolonial positioning "in terms of reversing, displacing and seizing" imperialist value-coding and Homi K. Bhabha's analysis of "shifting margins of cultural displacement", the seminar discusses texts and buildings on and from so-called "non-Western" spaces. With reference to postcolonial approaches, topics include, in addition to Western colonial and "ethnographic" interests, Charles Correa and Balkrishna Doshi's "quest for identity" in India against the backdrop of an "imposed" Western modernism, Minnette de Silva's retreat into local communities and Geoffrey Bawa's juggling with national and global expectations in Sri Lanka, or Hassan Fathy's attempts to revive ancient techniques and types in Egypt.

Resources

Literature

Syllabus and readings will be presented in the first class.

Learning Materials (Links)

General Information

Language
German
Levels
BSC
Frequency
Semesterly recurring

Examination

Type
ungraded semester performance

Registration & Places

Max Places
20
Signup End
02.10.2025

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Kunst- und Architekturgeschichte: Räumliche Geschichten kultureller Verschiebung
Keine Lehrveranstaltung am 23.10.2025 (Seminarwoche) sowie in den beiden letzten Semesterwochen (vor Schlussabgaben).
  • Thu 15:45-17:30 (HIL F 10.3)
2 h weekly

Offered In