Multimedia Essay Proposal

For my multimedia essay, I would like to explore a topic closely related to the one I researched for the previous assignment. I would like to discuss the role of classical architecture in today’s rapidly modernizing world and the necessity of traditional classical training for aspiring architects. I believe this is a relevant topic because many people today falsely believe that classical architecture and the classical tradition are outdated and no longer of any significance. I feel that I can utilize this assignment as an opportunity to persuade people of this mindset to see otherwise–that in fact, classical architecture and the classical tradition are still highly significant in the modern world.

In this presentation I would like to use a combination of arguments, narratives, quantitative, and qualitative research to make my claims and inform my audience. The narrative I would like to begin with is the story explaining how this topic directly relates to my life and how I came to understand the lasting pertinence of classical architecture. From there, I will take some time to provide quantitative and qualitative evidence that I have come across throughout the research process to forcefully convey my claims. After presenting this information, I will spend the final minutes concluding and reviewing my claims and arguments. 

Some of the major points I will touch upon throughout the my discussion include the timelessness and permanence of classical architecture, the historical relevance of classical architecture, and the rhetoric of classical architecture. Another main aspect will be the argument over the correct approach to training young architects. For this I will mainly discuss the fact that knowledge of the classical tradition provides a strong foundation of off which architects can do anything they chose because classical conventions and principles can be applied to nearly every architectural style. The evidence I use to support this claim will include mostly examples of situations in which this proved to be true. As for the design aspect of the presentation, some of the images that I believe will be most effective are photographs and sketches of some of the buildings I discuss so that audience members can have a visual guide as I discuss certain aspects and features. I also plan to have some slides with key words, phrases, and quotes to emphasize the main points that I make. 

Synthesis Paragraph

In this paper I plan to argue that studying classical architecture is the best way to train young architects for their future careers because unlike knowledge of only modern architecture, a firm understanding of classical conventions can be applied to all styles of design and forms a stronger base of skill sets. Many people today consider classical architecture to be something of the past, when in reality it is still very present in our modern societies. Authors such as John E. Ziolkowski in his book Classical Influence on the Public Architecture of Washington and Paris, and Jack McLaughlin in his book Jefferson and Monticello illustrate the prominence of classical architecture in America through the ages. Both argue that classical architecture is far from a thing of the past, and rather that it is highly significant in modern times. For this reason, I would ultimately like to prove that the study of classical architecture is the most effective approach to the study of architecture.