The relations between massive popular/pop culture and architecture after the 2nd World War

ABSTRACT Architecture, being a member of Art and Culture family seems to be related with its age, social, political conditions of its age as can be observed in Artistic and Cultural phenomena. Although this relation is not ahvays directly, its existence can be felt in general, in this context; Popular activity, representing a general tendency, that is to say the activity of giving some products, consisting Popular themes, has some specific social and cultural associations. Especially, in 20th Century Contemporary Architecture, some conditions, coming from Industrialization and preparing a new atmosphere strengthen more and a much more convenient area for Popular Architectural Practice is formed. Communication technologies, improved in the middle of the Century have a lot of important contributions in making this practice more effective and massive. That is to say, in other words, the Period after the 2nd World War presents some opportunities for the improvement of Popular Architectural activity in a way, even effecting today"s Atmosphere. Even this improvement prevails as historicist Postmodernism in 80's. it can be said that Postwar Period has a main role in constitution of Popular reflections which are special to today"s plural but at the same time chaotic Cultural and Architectural Atmosphere. Especially, general Popular tendency, being more effective with the motivation of Pop- Art -an extreme reflection of 60's- and with the improvement of communicational opportunities, prevails in architecture with some direct ör indirect reflections. in general, Popular tendency which refuses criticism ör progressive logic and which is more compromising, explicit, formative and massive, realizes a lot of activities, including similar qualities, in Architectural area. in Postwar Period (50-75) that does not apply to historical themes on formative base yet, reflects daily, consumptional qualities of Pop and that isconcentrated with this thesis, some popular activities are observed on the base of Architectural names and groups. in 50's IG's works (Independent Group's Works), responding to mechanical Urban Planning approach of Modernisin and aiming to refresh Popular Urban Center; products which are presented with more Modern lines but with discourse of "the effective usage of Exterior and Popular Environment" and which are presented by Alison, Peter Smithson couple who come from the tradition of IG prevail in this extent. Besides, another important activity of the Postwar Period on Popular even Pop base is Disneyland. in this context, Disneyland, motivating entertainment, fantasy, metaphor and consumption fünctions that are main elements of Popular presents very interesting and effective products. On the other hand, it is required to add reflections of sofhvare technological transformations of the Period that are not only stated on the base of making Western Popular Architecture massive but also placed as concrete modeling in Popular activity. Some names such as Fuller, R. Banham, Soleri and groups such as Archigram who start with themes, aiming to satisfy simple, Popular Urban demands but in this context who improve technological, bio- technological, even utopic models, create a lot of interesting projects. Also especially, several architects such as Venturi, Stern, Moore, Rossi, Stirling, Bofill, Gehry ör Hollein. and their first products seem to be related with the Popular themes in Postvvar Period. These architects are the prevailed Postmodernists of today's Architectural World. On this context, importance, which is given to signal architecture by Venturi on the base of making architecture -whose relations are not strong with the masses- more massive, that is to say, tendency of making familiar, ordinary forms some artistic and architectural elements, has a very deterministic role in this Period. At the same time, this tendency is a reflection of the general approach that is special to Popular, is not critical and that improves the compromise and reproducing familiar phenomena. Except dominated discourse of Venturi, other architects who are mentioned and are historicist Postmodernists of today strengthen Popular Cultural activity which aims ordinary life, description and is non-critical even though they use different methods. Finally, ali these projects and examples, motivated with the general social, political cultural, artistic and even architectural conditions of the Period constitute a very effective area. As mentioned at the beginning, this effectiveness strengthens the way, going toPostmodernism of 80's. Anyway, efFects which are created with this type of strength on today's Architectural Atmosphere that seems plural and also chaotic, are the main reasons of the choice of research's theme. in this context, it is hoped to be able to examine some concepts of today with some information which will be gained in thesis in a less cloudy perspective.