Strategies of Estrangement
Date: Monday 16 February 2009
The concept of estrangement was introduced in the late 1920s by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht in his Theory of Epic Theatre. Ultimately, Brecht used estrangement as an artistic technique to counter the alienation which, according to Marx, characterised the default relationships between the late capitalist individual and the physical and social environment. Contemporary architecture inscribes itself in this lineage by using various atmospheric, narrative or formal means to estrange the familiar appearance of a programme. The lecture will discuss various strategies of estrangement from contemporary art, advertising, music videos and popular music as well as architecture. Andreas Ruby (ruby-press.com) is an architectural theorist and curator. He studied with Paul Virilio at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris.
All lectures are open to members of the public, staff and students unless otherwise stated.