Rise and Functions of New Media in Architecture: An Investigation via Archdaily

Abstract

With the rapid spread and easy access of the Internet, the concept of digital media has entered all areas of life. Media tools, which are highly related with professions, affected the discipline of architecture as well and changed its dynamics in terms of design, production, marketing and advertising. In this context, a closer look to the media concept becomes necessary due to its triggering effect on critical thinking in architecture. In this study, 5 functions of digital media will be introduced in detail and the Archdaily platform, one of the most popular and widely used new media of Architecture, will be analyzed via these functions. For this, 967 posts published by Arcdaily in 2019 were analysed. In addition to the main hypothesis ‘Does Archdaily operate as a new architectural medium?’, sub-analyzes was carried out to see how Archdaily contributed to the world of architecture. Findings indicated that Archdaily was active in fulfilling all the 5 functions of media, though 3 functions, which are “socializing”, “providing cultural continuity” and “entertaining”, were observed to be fulfilled less than giving information and creating/shaping public opinion. Furthermore, qualitative analyses have shown that media functions were associated with the contents of publications. Findings imply the need of digital platforms to increase their activities in all functions equally and even surprise or exceed the 5 functions theory by adding new dimensions.

Keywords

• media
• digital media
• new media in architecture
• archdaily

Kaynakça

1. Alexa. (2019). The top 500 sites on the web. Retrieved from https://www.alexa.com/topsites/category/Top/Arts/Architecture
2. Archdaily. (2019). 2019 in Review. Retrieved from https://www.archdaily.com/tag/adtopic-2019-year-review
3. Archdaily. (2019a). Archdaily Main Page. Retrieved from www.archdaily.com
4. Archdaily. (2019b). Partners of Archdaily. Retrieved from https://www.archdaily.com/advertise
5. Arklan, Ü., & Akdağ, M. (2016). Gündelik Yaşamın Sosyal Medyası, Sosyal Medyanın Gündelik Yaşamı: İlişkisel Ve Etkileşimsel Perspektiften Uygulamalı Bir Çalışma. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Vizyoner Dergisi, 7(16), 16-34.
6. Arnold, D., Ergut, E. A., & Ozkaya, B. T. (2006). Rethinking architectural historiography: Routledge.
7. Başaranoğlu, K. (2018). Mimar kimliğinin inşası ve mimarlık medyasında temsili. (M.Arch thesis). Maltepe Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, İstanbul.
8. Boyacıoğlu D.B., E. E. Ö., & T., E. (2015). Küresel Mimarlık Pazarında Yeni Bir Araç Olarak Dijital Medya. Mimarlık(384), 74-77.

9. Boyd-Barrett, O., & Braham, P. (2013). Media, knowledge and power: Routledge.
10. Burton, G., & Marshall, P. D. (1993). More than meets the eye: an introduction to media studies//Review. Canadian Journal of Communication, 18(1), 112.
11. Chandler, D., & Munday, R. (2011). A dictionary of media and communication. OUP Oxford.
12. Cimadomo, G., García Rubio, R., & Shahdadpuri Aswani, V. (2018). Towards a (new) Architectural History for a digital age. Archdaily as a dissemination tool for architectural knowledge. Paper presented at the III. International Conference on Architectural Design and Criticism.
13. Comte, A. (1830). The Positive Philosophy of Auguste Comte (2 Vols), trans. Harriet Martineau from the French volumes of, 42.
14. Douglas, S. J. (2013). Listening in: Radio and the American imagination. London: U of Minnesota Press.
15. Fischer, S. R. (2003). History of writing. Reaktion books.
16. Göker, G. (2017). Dijital heterotopyalar:“Başka” bir bağlamda yeni medya. Selçuk İletişim, 9, 164-188.
17. Karaca, A. K. (2010). Medyanın mimarlığa etkisi, mimar imgesinin oluşumunda medyayın rolü (Doctoral dissertation, DEÜ Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü).
18. Katz, E. (1960). Communication research and the image of society convergence of two traditions. American Journal of Sociology, 65(5), 435-440.
19. Klapper, J. T. (1960). The effects of mass communication. New York, NY, US: Free Press.
20. Manovich, L. (2001). The language of new media: MIT press.
21. McLuhan, M., & Fiore, Q. (1967). The medium is the message. New York, 123, 126-128.
22. McQuail, D. (1987). Mass communication theory: An introduction. Sage Publications, Inc.
23. McQuail, D., & Windahl, S. (2015). Communication models for the study of mass communications: Routledge.
24. Mora, N. (2008). Medya, toplum ve haber kaynağı olarak sembolik seçkinler. Uluslararası İnsan Bilimleri Dergisi, 5(1), 1-25.
25. Moret, A. (2013). The Nile and Egyptian Civilization: Routledge.
26. Newhall, B. (1949). The history of photography: From 1839 to the present day (rev. ed.) New York: Museum of Modern Art. Original work published.
27. Oskay, Ü. (1993). XIX. yüzyıldan günümüze kitle iletişimin kültürel işlevleri. In (pp. 446). İstanbul: Der Yayınları, İstanbul.
28. Purdy, D. (2008). The Building in Bildung: Goethe, Palladio, and the Architectural Media. Goethe Yearbook, 15, 57-73. doi:10.1353/gyr.2008.0020
29. Schmandt-Besserat, D. (2010). How writing came about. Austin: University of Texas Press.
30. Urquhart, P., & Heyer, P. (2018). Communication in History: Stone Age Symbols to Social Media. Routledge.
31. Veil, S. R., & Ojeda, F. (2010). Establishing media partnerships in crisis response. Communication Studies, 61(4), 412-429.