[Reading Response]: Joseph Rosa

In the mid-20th century, modern domestic architecture was considered more appropriate to be a workspace than a home, due to the fear of technological and scientific advances. Under these circumstances, Hollywood movies use modern style white-walled architectures to emphasize antagonists’ characteristics. Movie producers tried to connect their created villains to certain modern forms of architecture. For example, in the James Bond series, the master criminal was set in a house of ‘poured-in-place concrete’ in the middle of the Nevada desert. This technique of forming the concrete makes the architecture lose the sense of warmth and affection as a home, which also foreshadows the evil characteristics of the villain. On the other hand, the traditional American house and neighborhood are more acceptable to be a home or inhabitant to the society by that time period. This might explain why movies that examine friendship and family relationships are often set in the traditional house on a suburban lot. Furthermore, Rosa reviews that ‘the nostalgia for a past domestic ideal’ helps to build a good character, which has been shown in the movie LA Confidential. Overall, there will always be films associated with modernist buildings. Different forms of architecture add different meanings and values to the story. However, these movies indeed leaves an impression and stereotype of ‘modern architecture connects with antagonistic characteristics’ to the audiences.

Tsui Fung Cheung  3035858860

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