Chapter 8

The founder of Futurism and its most influential personality was the Italian writer Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Marinetti launched the movement in his Futurist Manifesto, which he published for the first time on 5th February, 1909. Futurism was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century, and held it's influence through the 1930's. It emphasized and glorified themes associated with contemporary ideas of the future, including speed, technology, youth and violence, and the industrialism. The Futurists practiced in every medium of art, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, theatre, film, fashion, textiles, literature, music, and architecture. Futurism influenced art movements such as Art Deco, Constructivism, Surrealism, Dada.

"Unique Forms of Continuity in Space", bronze sculpture by Umberto Boccioni, 1913,

Museum of Modern Art (New York City)

Chapter 7

Henry Ford was Born on July 30th 1863, he died on April 7 1947. Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of Mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry. As owner of the Ford Motor Company, he became one of the richest and best-known people in the world. He is credited with "Fordism": mass production of inexpensive goods coupled with high wages for workers. Ford had a global vision, with consumerism as the key to peace. His intense commitment to systematically lowering costs resulted in many technical and business innovations, including a Franchise system that put dealerships throughout most of North America and in major cities on six continents.

Ford rethought the location of parts and sequence of operations in manufacturing and eventually developed the moving assembly line. Ford factories were known for a rapid pace and high rates of production. The rapid pace led many workers to quit after just a few weeks on the job. Ford responded by doubling the rate of pay. Ford developed an assembly-line method reducing production time from 12 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours, and the car price from $900 to $440. When Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908, it was available at $845 in black only (similar cars cost $2,000 to $3,000). It was said to be "stronger than a horse and easier to maintain."

Chapter 6

Frank Lloyd wright was born on June 8th, 1867, and died on April 7th, 1959. Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in organic philosophy. which means he believed in creating structures having harmony with their surroundings, made from natural materials, and having restraint toward ornamentation. Wright said that the dream for democratic architecture could only be achieved by embracing the machine.This philosophy was best exemplified by his design for Falling Water (1935), which hasbeen called "The best all-time work, of American architecture."

His work includes original and innovative examples of many different building types, including offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels, and museums. Wright also designed many of the interior elements of his buildings, such as the furniture and stained glass. Wright authored 20 books and many articles and was a popular lecturer in the United States and in Europe. His colorful personal life often made headlines, most notably for the 1914 fire and murders at his Taliesin Studio in Chicago. Already well known during his lifetime, Wright was recognized in 1991 by the American Institute of Architects as "the greatest American architect of all time."

Chapter 5

Christopher Dresser (1843-1904) was a Scottish designer that work with ideas that were far headof his time. He embraced the industrial movement as well as modern forms of manufacturing. Utilizing these forms of production he developed wallpaper, textiles, ceramics, glass, furniture and metalware. In his youth Dresser attended The Government School of design, Somerset. Where he pursued studies in the art of botany. House Dresser work in metalware in hinde sight was remarkable a head of its time. we see these modern style motifs in his work with his toast racks and teapots. Dresser explored simple yet elegant designs that would lend them selves to mass production; so that the middle classes could afford to have high culture items in their homes. Dresser spent a lot of time travel in Japan where he learned and was in spired by tradition japanese style of art; of which he used as an influence amongst most of his print work.

Chapter 4

During the 19th century, American cities were industrial and commercial centers for sprawling endless flows of immigrants. Cities such as New York quickly found itself overwhelmed and over capacity. Forcing immigrant family to squeeze into tenement housing typically no larger then your average college dorm room. These building were poorly designed, had no running water and had little to no sanitation. Toilets and running water were found outside in common areas between buildings. The lack of sanitation led to large scale outbreaks of illnesses and disease, that swept through the tenements like wild fire. The tenement housing had very poor ventilation, and during summer months heat waves commonly claimed the lives of children and elderly tenants. Tenement housing wasn't cheap. Living there forced it's tenants to work long hard hours. Before child labor came into effect, even children were sent out to work just as hard as an adults but they worked for a fraction of the pay.

Chapter 3

The camera obscura is an optical device that projects an image of its surroundings on a screen. It is primarily used in drawing and painting, and was one of the inventions that led to photography. The device consists of a box or room with a small pin hole or sometimes a lens on one side. Light from an external scene passes through the hole or lens and strikes a surface inside where it is reproduced, upside-down, but with color and perspective preserved. The image can be projected onto paper, and can then be traced to produce a highly accurate representation.

The Dutch master artist Johannes Vermeer, is known to have used a camera obscura. The movie "The girl with the pearl earring," portrays Vermeer durring the peak of his career. In the movie Vermeer describes the uses of the camera obscura and you get to see him use it while he paints.

Chapter 2

Isaac Merritt Singer (1811-1875) designed the first practical sewing machine in Boston, Massachusetts, United States in 1850, and in 1853 founded the Singer Manufacturing Company

His success was based on:

1) practicality of his machine,

2) ease of adaption to home use, and

3) availability on installment payment

Singer re-issued his sewing machine during 1856-1860. He designed his sewing machines to appeal to housewives. The sewing machines were built into cabinets and were commonly put in living rooms to be admired by guests.

I remember using a modern singer sewing machine, in a family consumer sciences class I had in middle school. I would never have know the history behind that machine without reading about it in this class.

Chapter 1

The Grand Tour, the original package holiday. Starting around 1660, upper class men would Travel all over Europe; visiting master works and ancient ruins. Upon returning home, travelers would bring with them souvenirs to decorate their homes. The grand tour sparked inspirations amongst architects. Patrons commissioned architects to recreate rooms and furniture they had seen during The Grand Tour. The invention of railroads in 1820 made The Grand Tour safer, easier, and more affordable. Now The Grand Tour was obtainable by the middle classes. This allowed the middle class to indulge in high cultural decor and the privilege of seeing master works.