The spectacle of Architectural discourses

This article outlines how, from the Victorian era through the postmodern style in architecture, consumer culture has depended on a dual process in which (1) forces of capitalism generated a broad spectrum of representational experimentation that transformed common modes of thinking and perceiving and (2) verbal discourses provided comfort to people unsettled by the speed and magnitude of these changes. Such narratives seemingly sustained traditional value systems and an illusion that high culture and good intentions are immune to commercial interests. Architectural discourses contributed to and adopted this process, discouraging critical insight into the design and understanding of built environments.