Why 'SALT'

The metaphor salt is to indicate the thought of THEORY for architecture. Salt as an ingredient cannot be directly consumed, but without it, the recipe remains tasteless. The same idea applies to architectural theories. Here, the intention is to create a platform where various architectural theories and theorists can be discussed, reviewed, and further dissected to apply it in the tangible world. A theory for architecture remains in the intangible ways, if not applied, but that does not mean that every theory has a direct application. The point here is that an architectural theory most of the times acts as this ingredient ‘salt’ and we cannot expect it to be in direct conversation with the idea of built-forms, but definitely can be added in the right proportion to shape an idea to a thought, which in turn is subjected to changes and finally ‘the end product’.
Hence the name ‘SALT’
We welcome you all to contribute, and to make this a more tasteful recipe.

Please feel free to mail your essays to publish on this blog and keep commenting (your name with comments will be highly appreciated).


Contact email

Tushar gaur: ar.tushar@gmail.com
Shoonya: shoonyar@gmail.com

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Creative Evolution

An argument on paradigm Shift  

What is sign of human existence or presence?
Sign of human existence or presence are man made artifacts and imposed ‘orders’. Human creates and organize. To organize means to impose an ‘order’. Imposition of ‘order’ on both nature and humanity. Another sign is evolution i.e. To ‘live’ is to ‘evolve’. Evolution is related to creation or evolution in ability to create.This essay does not target any specific field of study but tries to develop a general argument on creative evolution. Study targets factors which makes this creative evolution possible and reasons for current apparent stagnation in creative evolution. One might argue on current bombardment of creations but this essay tries to analyze change in base structure of creative evolution not the quantum of created and corollaries.
Framework of study 
An ‘equation’ is a (primarily mathematical) statement that asserts the equality of two expressions. It tries to understand the relations and develops a possibility where both expressions exist in conciliation. Balance in equations are basic human trait and on them depends our existential pattern. The equations are basic component of the structure of the ‘order’.  ‘Order’ identifies what comes before or after or pre defines the probability of behavior of ‘values’ based on equations. ‘Order’ is most important aspect of civilization and human evolution.Evolution is change or shift of ‘order’. ‘Orders’ arrange themselves to create a ‘system’. ‘System’ is a set of interacting or interdependent ‘orders’ (system components) forming an integrated whole. 
‘Systems’ operate on ‘orders’ and equations. These infinite equations define existence.Not every equation is balanced and some time indeterminate equation arise or ‘values’ do not confirm to equations.To exemplify, we can start with very simple equation of division which explains all essential terms and background which will be used in this essay. In equation of division, the dividend is divided by divisor to achieve quotient but when value is not perfectly divisible result comes with ‘remainders’. The behavior of these ‘remainders’ is of prime interest in this essay. Essay uses mathematical terms as tool to exploit multiplicity of meaning. 


‘Remainders’ and Importance 
‘Values’ which confirm to the equation are accepted in the ‘system’ but some ‘values’ don’t confirm.The existence of the ‘remainders’ implies that the ‘order’ accepts the value’s  partial behavior but leaves some ‘remainders’ which can’t be accepted in ‘order’. ‘Values’ which confirm to equations completely are rare. Almost every value has a remainder and this contribute to integrated whole of ‘remainders’. These ‘remainders’ also define and redefine ‘system’ and adds to identity of the ‘system’. These ‘remainders’ adds on to instability which overturns its structure or identity time and again to create a new ‘system’. This new system is based on accommodation of ‘remainders’ as ‘values’ instead as ‘remainders’. The simple relation of the ‘remainders’ goes very complex with interaction in various ‘orders’ and ‘systems’. ‘Orders’ exist on  relation of differences. ‘Order’ needs these ‘values’ of difference as an example but at the same time not valuing the differences.  ‘Remainders’ are the agents of the changes and suppressed aspect of the ‘order’. The imposition of the ‘order’ is opposed in ‘remainders’ and these are which do not confirm to the ‘order’ and wish to prove the existence more than just the ‘order’. Certainly this opposition grows from ‘order’ to ‘reminders’ and then vice-versa but in exponential intensities.


‘Explorations’ to ‘Exploitation’
A new ‘order’ is trying to establish itself.The ‘order’ which is innovative and accommodating difference. One can’t trace a sharp ridge of change in the ‘order’ in every paradigm shift. Some planned revolutions which overturned existing ‘order’ can notice these sharp departures but if one observes these in more broader terms then its almost impossible to trace the exact moments of shift. ‘Remainders’ try to initiate equation which is balanced and accepts it as a value.The sift of the ‘order’ starts with this equation based on an ‘exploration’ which some times contradicts the existing ‘order’ and ‘system’. This exploration grows into an equation of independent existence and some time overturns the complete ‘order’ and structure. This witnesses a rise of a completely radical ‘system’. ‘System’ of a new ‘spirit’ and ‘expression’. The ‘Exploration’ sets up itself as a new ‘order’ and existing ‘values’ are push to margins.The exploration ‘system’ often faces a new set of difficulties which are unprecedented. These difficulties were calculated being in the ‘existing’ ‘system’ but with whole paradigm shift calculations hold untrue. ‘System’ faces difficulties for which ‘exploration’ ‘system’ is not ready. Exploration ‘system’ tries to establishes and evolve but the odds against it also prevail. This new ‘order’ generates more revolutionary ‘remainders’. History repeats itself. When exploration ‘system’ is established, it works as previous ‘system’. It looses degree of exploration and what remains is just ‘system’. The moment which is of prime importance here is when exploration ‘system’ starts exploiting. The existence of harmony is suspended between these moments of exploration to exploitation. The frame of exploration is much less than the exploitation and soon exploitation of exploration prevails.


Innovation-differences and Mediation
Innovation lies in differences. Difference is most valuable property but throughout history one can trace attempts to exploit and abolish dimension on which differences exist. Contemporary practices appreciate neutralizing of differences and mediating them with averages. Differences should not be mediated. Mediation kills innovation. Limits remain constants and thinking shrinks when caged in limits.Thinking has a task of breaking limits, removing boundaries. Hegelian triad which advocates fusion of the singularity of ‘thesis’ to complexity of ‘antithesis’ for achieving ‘organized complexity’ of synthesis is the base of this mediation. This model is not justifiable to thinking paradigm as it advocates synthesis as a tool of settlement and mediation of difference. Here thesis is a stable proposition challenged by antithesis but most thesis establish them as antithesis. Antithesis comes first to thesis and keeps on evolving and synthesis never happens. Organization of complexity is important aspect of Hegelian synthesis which can be seen as new forced ‘order’ which caters as mid-lending and deems stability.This is a negotiation between existing ‘order’ and emerging ‘order’.  This negotiation is creation of fake realm, just a disguise for identity of ‘orders’. ‘Remainders’ keep evolving and differences never die. Existence of ‘remainders’ is preferable over achieving mediation or resolution of ‘remainders’. Resolved and mediated ‘remainders’ are no ‘remainders’, they loose character. Mediation kills ideas and resolution is not solution but a new problem of compromises. Conflict of ‘orders’ and ideas is desirable and should be accommodated to enrich.


Stability of Unstable ‘Systems’
From previous arguments it can be assumed that ‘remainders’ are the most important aspect of a ‘order’. Though ‘remainders’ are undesirable for ‘order’ and system but on contrary are catalyst to evolution. ‘Order’ evolves to accommodate the ‘remainders’. If we segregate these ‘remainders’ from the ‘order’ then we will achieve absolutes which makes no progression possible.Evolution of ‘order’ dynamise the ‘system’ hence ‘order’ contributes to identity of the ‘system’. If ‘remainders’ are abolished, ‘order’ freezes, goes monotonous and hence is marginalized in ‘system’.


Where are ‘remainders’?
Its interesting to analyze current states of equations, ‘orders’ and ‘systems’ to question the current sate of ‘remainders’. It seems if equations have gone perfect or system has crashed or ‘remainders’ are extremely marginalized. Perfect equation means accommodation all the variables and relations to create a balanced in equation which satisfies all variable without ‘remainders’. Perfect equation is doubtable as it manifests Utopia and its for sure that its not Utopia. Anarchism is signified by Crash of system, which is also not evident.  Organization and marginalization of ‘remainders’ is important in this discussion as it relates to evolution wheel. This can be studied in following two possibilities -


Stooged ‘Remainders’: 
Remainder does not exist separate to ‘value’. Its inside value. Identification of remainders is an issue. If we closely observe the new working paradigms, its quite evident that ‘remainders’ are stooged. ‘Remainders’ exist for sake of being reminders. They just fill in space as essentials in equations and staged as real ‘remainders’. The equations are engineered to produce ‘remainders’ and are controlled by ‘order’. These observations can hold untrue in certain cases but what’s important here is evolution of a new ‘order’ and set of equations which stage a complete paradigm. Here its important to notice that these fake ‘remainders’ confirm organization and structure of the ‘order’ more than variables itself. These ‘remainders’ confirm more to system than ‘absolutes’. As variables and entries which confirm to equation and ‘order’ can improvise to generate some ‘remainders’ but these ‘remainders’ loose there this ability in stooging. These ‘remainders’ are inseparable component of the ‘order’ and deem no evolution. So the ‘remainders’ existing in the ‘order’ are no ‘remainders’ but ‘values’ acting as ‘remainders’.


Oppressed Remainders’: 
Phenomenon of oppression is quite natural. Its inherited in ‘order’ to oppresses ‘remainders’ in every possible means and to retain its identity. This age is facing a unique type of ‘remainders’ and that is ‘remainders of identity crisis’. These ‘remainders’ have no idea about there role in the ‘order’ and responsibility to change course of the ‘order’. Main crisis is not physical oppression but loss of senses and understanding. Current oppression works on duality of body and mind. The mental construct of the ‘values’ and relations has an induced passiveness to ‘remainders’. The ability of mind to oppose is systematically ceased which in turn has handicapped physical actions. The essential condition for upturning of the ‘order’ is physical slavery and mental freedom which is vice versa. ‘orders’ always enjoyed physical superiority of structure to ‘remainders’ (which makes them ‘remainders’) for oppression and has created possibilities for ‘remainders’ to act as ‘values’. These ‘remainders’ have no idea of there existence as ‘remainders’.


Conclusion:
This is age of crisis for ‘order’ and ‘systems’. ‘Systems’ have broken base structure and hope to survive. As discussed earlier, base structure of equation and relations are voided. The ‘remainders’ are mediated, stooged and disguised. Possibility of the evolution is ceased. This is not the first time when ‘systems’ are enjoying this supremacy but this flamboyance will shatter. Change is inevitable and more one resists more is the deviation. The tool for initiation of the chain reaction in ‘remainders’ is ‘doubt’. Crisis is ‘remainders’ have ‘doubt’ of ‘existence’ instead of ‘existence’ of ‘doubt’. Deep down ‘remainder’ exists, ‘doubt’ gives it ‘existence’. Doubt in equation, ‘order’, ‘system’, value, value of value, ‘remainders’, value in ‘remainders’, ‘remainders’ of value and way it exist. Acceptance is confirmation and ‘doubt’ is virtue of evolution. 

Start ‘doubting’ and be ‘remainders’

References:
-Mathematical definitions used in frame work and concept of Hegelian triad is referred from Wikipedia.