Architecture and Politics

I've always been interested in architecture and for a long time, I've been interested in labor history. In particular, how the role of guilds, craft unions and workers in general have shaped the history of the world and this country in particular. The years between 1880 and the late1930s were a time of tremendous development in industry, art and a combination of the two. It was the time of Streamline Moderne, the jazz age and all kinds of really fine designs like the Twentieth Century Limited, the S. S. Normandie and Auburn boattail speedsters. Henry Dreyfuss and Raymond Lowey were designing all kinds of cool things and Elbert Hubbard, Dard Hunter, Gustav Stickley and others were making all manner of Arts and Craft items.

Also during this time period was a strong labor movement. Mother Jones, Eugene V Debs, Samuel Gompers and a host of others were involved with the Wobblies, the Socialist Party of America, the American Federation of Labor, the Congress of Industrial Organizations, etc. Some of this was a direct result of abusive labor policies of the robber barons in the steel and railroad industries. Some was a result of the dangerous conditions in the coal mines and some was a result of the philosophies adhered to by immigrant laborers. It was as Dickens said: "the best of times and the worst of times".

Even though I'm interested in these subjects, I know a little bit about a lot of it but a lot about only a little of it. So I'm always trying to learn more, especially what was going on in other countries. So after the long lead in, I'm recommending you check out this blog if you are interested in similar topics. This was Blogger's blog of the day awhile back. The blogger is an English writer/critic/PHD candidate/and who knows what else. He writes on architecture, labor and political topics and how they all interact, especially from a historical standpoint. While much of what he writes concerns England and current issues, it applies to a greater or lesser extent to America. His October 17th post has the movie Manhatta by Paul Strand and Charles Sheeler. I'm a big fan of Sheeler and of the Russian poster art he throws up. Because I have a little background and an interest in all of this, I can understand some of what he's writing about. However, much of it is either way too deep or just too far out in left field for me. But I like getting the world view on much of what is essentially glossed over in history class. However, after reading a couple of his posts, I just had to stop and take a deep breath and wonder what the hell did I just read? So check it out and see if you can make sense of it. If it all seems perfectly clear, let me know and you can interpret for me.