Ultimately, the research project is an opportunity to engage three specific buildings and a thesis through in depth research. The idea is to become an expert on these particular buildings, well-versed in their history, design language, and cultural contexts, while developing a thesis that connects them. The subjects must date from the period of the class and be well-documented, with an abundance of source material with which to conduct research. They may not be covered in depth in lecture (see the graphic bar on the first slide of each lecture) although a different site by a covered designer is acceptable. Optimally, they should all share one thing in common—be that a theoretical approach, style, chronology, or geographical location in common—yet have distinctions in other contexts which allow a comparative approach. We will discuss possibilities further during discussion.
Numerous resources are available on Moodle under the folder “Research Project Materials” including four theoretical texts which outline possible thematic approaches to organizing your research. You may choose one of them (Honesty & Deception, Architecture & the Body, Proportion & Organization, or Context) and structure your project around an argument about the relationship between the buildings and your chosen theme/theory. Or, you may simply choose three buildings and a topic first and see where your research leads you. Under either approach, you must eventually develop a concrete thesis to drive the project and final paper—it is not sufficient to simply summarize information and describe the buildings. You should be distilling your research and synthesizing it into your own argument or intellectual position.
Lectures topics:
1. prehistory to near east: Sites of shelter, Dwelling, and Ritual.
2. Ancient Eygpt: Pyramids and Temples.
3. The Bronze Age Aegean: Maritime and Military.
4. Ancient Greece: Poleis and Propaganda.
5. Ancient Rome: Empire, Entertainment, and Excess.
Research project proposal should include the following:
‣ The name, date, location, and designer of each building or site.
‣ A brief statement outlining your proposed approach to the study of these particular buildings. We want to leave room for the research to inform your eventual thesis, but this should summarize why you chose the buildings and how you will begin to analyze them. It’s quite alright if this is in the form of a question at this point.
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