An Analysis of the Social Foundations of Charles Jencks's Constructive Postmodern Architecture.

This paper explores the social roots of Charles Jencks' theory of "Constructive Post-Modern Architecture," arguing that it emerged in the late 20th century from a period of profound reflection on the crisis of modernity within Western societies. The two World Wars exposed the limitations of rationalism, the capital logic of post-industrial society exacerbated spiritual alienation, and the erosion of scientific discourse's hegemony fostered cultural pluralism. Jencks' theory critiques the functionalism of Modernist architecture, advocating for the reconstruction of cultural meaning through strategies such as historical symbol collage and double coding to address the contradictions inherent in societal transformation. At its core, Jencks' approach seeks to reconcile the tensions between elite and popular culture, and tradition and modernity, imbuing architecture with renewed humanistic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]