Colonialism Influence On Modernity

The authors explore the implications of colonialism on the shaping of space within Modernity. Discussing the various influences on Modernity, Penelope Edmonds explores the impact of Indigenous culture and history on colonialism and its impact on the development of the ‘new world’ of Melbourne. Similarly Sibel Bozdogan commends history and culture and its important role in influencing modern architecture. However Bozdogan also expresses the postcolonial criticism of modernity being wrongfully overpowering over its historical and cultural importance. Similarly to Bozdogan, John M. Mackenzie looks at colonialism on a global scale looking more broadly at orientalism and the cultural influences that inform modernist design and architecture.

In “This Grand Object: Building Towns in Indigenous spaces, Edmond outlines the history of colonialism in Australia and the …show more content…
Relatively, Mackenzie also expresses the power of colonialism and its ability to override cultural influence, expressing the difficulty for “oriental architectural styles could have successfully assaulted western forms” . However, Mackenzie conveys the importance of oriental style as a “vehicle for the most modern and technologically advanced forms (exhibitions, factories, cinemas).” . While orientalism could not subdue existing European architecture, it could be the ‘vehicle’ to drive new and modern expressions. The position of orientalism and its cultural impact is made clear as “the use of oriental forms and inspiration to free (themselves) from dominant styles…to express new functions and moods, even modernity” . Mackenzie acknowledging both the European impact on society but also the cultural orientalism and its driving force into