I personally believe that the Victorian area was not as aesthetically pleasing as other periods. The cluttered rooms as well as the darkness from the textiles being used created a very gloomy atmosphere. However, I think it is hard to argue that the decor was not successful for the time because people were so proud to actually own and display the personal "stuff" that was becoming available at this time. I favor the American take on Victorian style over that of England's. It seems to be a bit more conservative and free of clutter which allows for the actual style of this era to be seen.

Victorian Era

The Industrial Revolution created a new society, and its impacts have affected everything since, including the Victorian Era. This era brought on an concept of 'codes' that the upper class and upcoming middle class had to hold. This included the idea of what women were supposed to do, how the house was managed, and how the house should be decorated. The ornate detail of homes and rich fabrics were used to represent how well off the upper class was. The middle class was rising and they also used these decorations to display their wealth and power.The homes during the Victorian Era were becoming larger, more complex, and spatially designed. The house was designed around specific tasks, designated areas for men, women, children, and servants, and into public and private areas. This allowed for more rooms in the house, which resulted in more decoration of those rooms.
The decorations that filled these improved homes were made of many different materials, made available for use from the Industrial Revolution. These materials included newly usable wrought and cast iron for chairs, larger sheets of plate glass for windows, and large sheets of fabric for curtains and chair upholstery. Every room was covered in ornate and detailed decoration. Not only were the rooms decorated in this manner, but the walls, ceilings and floors were as well, with wallpaper, plaster, and parquet. (History of Interior Design and Furniture, Blakemore.)
The Victorian Era was also a time of somewhat conflicting styles; traditional and Gothic Revival. This Gothic revival was led by A. W. N. Pugin, who wrote books showing the significance of the Gothic style, reflected through Catholicism. The traditional style was the more common of the two during this period, which reflected on past styles.
After reflecting on the Victorian Era house, from the spacial planning to decorations, how do you think it was impacted and/or changed by the Industrial Revolution?

The Victorian Era_A

The Victorian Era was highlighted by organic carvings and ornamentation covering as much surface as possible. Even the middle class could afford to clutter their homes with decoration. With the implication of mass production, merchandise were produced much quicker and cheaper, allowing the lower income homes to be able to afford to decorate. As much “stuff” went into middle class homes, even more went into upper class homes to the point of which it makes you wonder how they even got around in their own homes. Especially considering light could barely penetrate the room through the many layers of thick curtains and blinds onto the dark walls of the interior. As you can see in the image to the left, the dark floral wallpaper and the vibrant colors of the cluttered furniture makes the space very busy and therefore interpreted as affluent.

This ostentatious display of decoration was associated with wealth, so the English of the Victorian Era crammed their homes with furniture, knickknacks, and luxury items, such as pianos, to show their refinement and taste. Homes were not the only element they enhanced to demonstrate their wealth. The Victorian’s attire was also exaggerated, which actually had an effect on interior spaces. The wide bell skirts required a wider seat and even staircases were widened to accommodate the style of clothing in the Victorian Era.

England was not the only country to embrace the design ideology of the Victorian era. Most of the styles that came out of England were influential all over, specifically in the United States. However, America did not take on quite as much of the organic quality of the English Victorian style, but refined the style into a more straight forward, controlled look. In the translation of the Victorian Era to America, some of the creativity, vitality, and the fluid quality of the style was lost.

Some Critics argue that the Victorian Era marks a low point in design as far as aesthetic quality and taste is concerned. The abundance of ornamentation can be viewed as gaudy and tasteless to some. Do you agree that the Victorian era was a low point in design or was the style aesthetically successful? Also, do you feel as though the way in which America interpreted or refined the style was an improvement or a step back?

Image 1 from: http://www.fashion-era.com/homelife_changes.htm Image 2 from: http://www.victorianstation.com/vicarch.html

Industrial Revolution_A

Industrial Revolution: step forward or step in the wrong direction?

As we have discussed in class, historians relate the Industrial Revolution to that of the Neolithic Revolution (when humans became an agrarian community versus nomadic). There is no doubt that because of the Industrial Revolution we have benefited from its many inventions, advancements and improvements. Without it, our lives as we know it would be non-existent. Still, history shows that the ancient Romans (before the fall of Rome) were a very advanced society and had invented many processes and materials to make life easier and more secure. Unfortunately, these methods were lost or forgotten with the fall of the Roman Empire. Considering global warming, do you believe that the Industrial Revolution, specifically the discovery of coal and other fossil fuels, was a necessary step forward or a “misstep” in the advancement of modern man? Explain your answer.

Im just seein how this works

So umm... i guess it works fine. :)

if you can arrange 4 nights in NYC for $500 including airfare, count me in!

sounds great!price is fine:)

Welcome to ID 243

Hello everyone! I'm sure many of you are soaking up your last few days of "free" time or "making money" time before school starts back. I'm excited to be teaching ID 243 this semester and I am working on making it an exciting semester for you.

I am in the process of planning a trip to NYC!! However, I am still working out the details and keeping my fingers crossed that we can make this a reality. Right now I am working on the pricing which would include Airfare, hotel, and transportation from the airport. The trip would take place either the third or the last weekend in March (either 3/21-3/25 or 3/28-4/01). It would be on a Wednesday thru Sunday. As of right now, it looks like the 5 day/ 4 night trip would cost about $500 (give or take- hopefully "take"). I would like to know if this is an outrageous price for you. This price would be for a relatively "cool" hotel in the theatre district near Times Square (and other great places). FYI: the less desirable hotels are only about $50 less per person, but will be pursued more heavily if this price is too high. I can give you more information as we get the price negotiated.

What I would like for you to do prior to class is (1) create an account (for this blog) (2) post a comment to this topic telling me if this is "do-able" for you or not. Please be advised, this is NOT a vote. I will do everything I can to get the price lower so that everyone will be able to go. However, if you feel that you do not have the money available to travel, that is fine. However, please consider this amazing opportunity to discover a city full of wonderful design, history, and culture!