The figure of the Modern Movement has continued to be a struggle arena for the architectural discourse; long after its power had faded away. The heroic modernism, is still serving as a case study for investigating new notions and a central site for proving contradictory conceptions. Modernism is especially used as a means of confirming autonomic conceptions; and alternatively, it is a trigger for promoting new models of functionalism, which are

inspire by other fields of knowledge. Through this process, architectural field is being expanded.

At the first part of the course we will investigate the interpretation of Functionalism through few intersections in the post-war discourse. The concept of functionalism, which stood at the heart of Modern Movement's ideology, was used also as a major target for criticism.  Following Charles Jencks's question, whether Functionalism was really functional, we will discuss the invention of ‘International Style’ which was accompanied by a symbolic conversion of functionalism to the Machine Aesthetics, we shall re-consider Ryner Banham's critique of the First Machine Age architecture and his notion of non-determinist biological functionalism. Then, we will try to understand 'functionalism' in a semiotic context. Peter Eisenman's formalist reading of modern masterpieces, as well as his early architectural activity, will be considered as posing a critical alternative to functionalism.

During the second part of the course we will try to expand our perspective, by dealing with few fundamental issues, such as the social context of functionalism, architecture and consuming culture and the postmodern quotation. We will deal with the relation of aesthetics to function, as well as thinking of the function of art. We will also discuss the intersections of art with architecture, with emphasis on, representation of architecture, proto-architectural sculpture and semi-architectural installation. We will further discuss the relation between a flexible functionalism conception and adopting extra-disciplinary ideas, from science in particular. In discussing these issues, we will read a few texts by Jameson, Krauss and Vidler, among others.

Towards the third ending of the course, the students will be required to formulate a research question that will be based on one of the topics that are defined in the added document. The research will present a critical discussion of a case study, based on the course material and other relevant texts The research will be presented in the class and will be submitted as in a research paper.