Architecture is a very good test of the true strength of a society, for the most valuable things in a human state are the irrevocable things - marriage, for instance. And architecture approaches nearer than any other art to being irrevocable, because it is so difficult to get rid of. [-] A building is akin to dogma; it is insolent, like a dogma. Whether or no it is permanent, it claims permanence like a dogma. People ask why we have no typical architecture of the modern world, like impressionism in painting. Surely is is obviously because we have not enough dogmas
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Symbolic actions
Chapter IX of 'Tremendous Trifles' finds Chesterton still in France. While contemplating the destruction of the Bastille, he makes some interesting observations about (the lack of modern) architecture:
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Today, I saw an interesting illustration of Chesterton's point about modern architecture: the very modern 'Convention Center' of the 'Church of Jesus Christ and the latter-day saints' is an impressive piece of work; these people certainly have dogma.
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