Indiphile Hintsho

HATA 1 - Assignment 3

Architecture and literature can both be used as forms of expression. Architecter can also be used in
literature both these ways of using architecture create different and valuable results.

The book Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino is not poetic, not much use of metaphors or similes, its makes
use of native writing. The specifity of the writing makes it appealing. Through out the book Marco Polo is
describing various versions of city life to the Chinese ruler Kublal Kan, Calvino creates these fictional
cities quickly with artifacts to build the architectural, the cities are quickly forgotten and a new one is
built and a the cycle starts again, mimicking the fast-paced busy City Life, leaving you wantingto her
more about the enthralling cities. “For a long time Pyrrha to me was a fortified city on the slopes of a
bay, with high windows and towers, enclosed like a goblet, with a central square deep as a well, with a
well in its center.”(Calvino, 1972, pg92).

The Indicator: In Praise of Shadows by Junichiro Tanizaki is a philosophy book, Japanese aesthetics of
space and light inspired the title In Praise of Shadows. According to writer Junichiro Tanizaki, shadows
are physical elements of light and darkness, and a nod to the past. Tanizaki talks about Japanese
aesthetics,architecture and how they compare to the modern Western world. Japanese appreciate
“dimness, absolute cleanliness, and quiet so complete one can hear the hum of a mosquito.”( Tanizaki).
While tge Western world. Japanese architecture is overwhelmed by shadows, mainly because it rains so
often. Because Japanese buildings are made of wood, the pillars rot quickly when it rains. Therefore, the
roof must cover them completely, and the eaves must be two to three meters deep to keep out the rain
and prevent light from entering inside. Possibly forcing the people to appreciate and find beauty in the
shadows. This is a huge contrast to the overs stimulating, bright glitz of the modern world

The two books read different, Invisible Cities reads fast like Citie life(westernised world), the narrative
writing makes it feel adventures, The Indicator: In Praise of Shadows reads slow and calm(eastern world)
and is critical but they both talk about asthmatics, together they shows how 2 different asthmatics can
both be appreciated without taking away from the other.

“In Invisible Cities, Marco Polo conjures up cities of magical times for his host, the Chinese ruler Kublai
Kan, but it gradually becomes clear that he is actually describing one city” You could use this as part of a
design process, by using one idea or concept, rearrange its details in your imagination and describe how
the new idea would make you feel by recording yourself talking out loud or writing it down. Repeating
this till you come across something you like. In Praise of Shadows brings our attention to the Subtle and
over looked parts of life, which is overshadowed by over stimulating stimuli we chase in the westernised
world because it distracts us from the ugly parts of living but it also blinds us from seeing the beauty in
the “bad” and subtle.
Bibliography

Calvino, I., 2013. Invisible Cities. [S.I.]: HMH Books.

Xavio Design. 2022. ‘In Praise of Shadows.’ – Jun'ichirō Tanizaki. [online] Available at:
<https://www.xavio-design.com/news/in-praise-of-shadows-junichiro-tanizaki> [Accessed 30 August
2022].

Tanizaki, J., J., T.H. & Seidensticker, E.G., 2001. In praise of shadows, London: Vintage Books.