Book Review:
Blubberland: The Dangers of Happiness by Elizabeth Farrelly
Published in 2008 by MIT Press, Cambridge Massachusetts
ISBN 978-0-262-56236-2
Australian commentator, critic and writer Elizabeth Farrelly launches an undisguised attack on the superficial and excessive lifestyles of the Western world, primarily the United States and Australia, and their ever expanding waistlines, massive houses and over-enthusiastic consumption. She is the adjunct associate professor of architecture at the University of Sydney and won several international critics’ awards; this book was originally published by University of New South Wales Press.
Farrelly begins by exploring the inherent human desire to seek happiness, the qualities that have resulted in humans evolving to their present state. The opening chapters explore the key drivers behind desire, envy and fear and their contribution to the modern psyche. Her notion that we misinterpret our biological incentive systems and follow an easy consumerist solution forms the over-riding theme of the text.
The concept of beauty and desire for perfection is identified and historically analysed. She states that beauty used to refer as much to one’s personality as much as physical appearance, whilst beauty today is overly obsessed with the visual aesthetic. The twentieth century has seen the demise of the artistic goal of beauty portrayed and the development of modern movements in the striping back layers to reveal that that was not previously considered beautiful. The modern art concept of ugly as beautiful is explored using examples such as Damien Hurst’s formaldehyde cows and the work of Jackson Pollack and Pablo Picasso. This theory was replicated in architecture by the modernist movement and obsession with transparency. This highbrow ethic is countered by a discourse of the notion of masks. From clothes, make-up and material possessions to psychological barriers these are all an opposite to modern movements in art and architecture.
Farrelly explores the invasion of fat in our daily existence, from suburban ‘McMansions’ (identical super-sized homes) to obesity and the increasing consumption levels in western culture. She states that blubber (fat) is that physical manifestation of our over-indulgent society. She notes how we always desire a better home, bigger portions of food and the latest gadgets. She identifies the problem that homes-ownership causes in fuelling the constant desire to improve, expand and beautify one’s home for no innate need. She details that the ugly and kitsch has become socially acceptable and has created neighbourhoods and districts that hark back to a retro era with follies of historical buildings. These lack the historical context, therefore have no cultural weight, heighten our discomfort with these surroundings, and increase our desire to seek ‘real’ culture (usually through tourism).
The environmental impact of our lifestyles is one of increasing concern, she writes, however the problem and solution maybe not as obvious as one might think. She states that the average modern New Yorker uses a quarter of the CO2 emissions compared the national average, primarily down to their use of public transportation, walking and living in a dense city. Suburban living encourages the use of the car and relies on a proportionally large supply chain to feed it. The notion of moving house to the suburbs to be closer to nature is an oxymoron in Farrelly’s view. She argues that the car actively discourages social interaction and personal well-being by cocooning us in our own personal bubble and isolating us from our surroundings and aiding sensory deprivation and social detachment.
The impact of feminism on the built environment and consumerism is identified and explored. Farrelly states the gather instincts of the female and their increasing personal affluence drives the design of shopping malls and the obsession of society on safety. In the absence of any likely threat to their brood, their desire to protect is manifested in the gated communities, enclosed malls and the use of the car. She states that through the decoration of the home and person they are misplacing their natural urges to protect, nurture and develop.
Farrelly asks how, with all our money, influence, knowledge and resources, we still manage to produce such ugly buildings and cities, and contribution to the destruction of our natural planet. She details how the democracy combined with capitalism has created an immovable beast that is incapable of acting in our best interests. The naturally right-wing conservative leanings that this political stance induces are incapable of progressing our society in a radical manner.
In her conclusion, Farrelly describes her vision for the future for cities and humanity. Predictably, this details the virtual eradication of the personal car, but surprisingly encourages the city and urges us to build denser. This removal of the reliance on the car, the promotion of cycling and walking would encourage social interaction and natural health. She identifies that the new currency will be the joule, in reference to the increasing relevance of energy on our financial systems.
The informal nature of Blubberland results in the text reading as a tapped stream of thought. This is countered by numerous historical and pop references and statistics that embellish the chapters. Whilst the historical and artistic theory read a little arduous and the religious commentaries are incomplete in the absence of any non-Christian views, the book overall is inspiring. Her analysis of home-ownership on the financial system and political scene seem surprisingly timely given the recent ‘credit-crunch’. The views on empowerment of women and their contribution to the modern built environment are interesting and the flight of fantasy that is her ‘I have a dream’ conclusion is refreshingly imaginative. This book would have enforced my dissertation’s concept of sensorial architecture, through its rejection of the fake, the kitsch and desire for beauty.
Blubberland: The Dangers of Happiness by Elizabeth Farrelly
Published in 2008 by MIT Press, Cambridge Massachusetts
ISBN 978-0-262-56236-2
Australian commentator, critic and writer Elizabeth Farrelly launches an undisguised attack on the superficial and excessive lifestyles of the Western world, primarily the United States and Australia, and their ever expanding waistlines, massive houses and over-enthusiastic consumption. She is the adjunct associate professor of architecture at the University of Sydney and won several international critics’ awards; this book was originally published by University of New South Wales Press.
Farrelly begins by exploring the inherent human desire to seek happiness, the qualities that have resulted in humans evolving to their present state. The opening chapters explore the key drivers behind desire, envy and fear and their contribution to the modern psyche. Her notion that we misinterpret our biological incentive systems and follow an easy consumerist solution forms the over-riding theme of the text.
The concept of beauty and desire for perfection is identified and historically analysed. She states that beauty used to refer as much to one’s personality as much as physical appearance, whilst beauty today is overly obsessed with the visual aesthetic. The twentieth century has seen the demise of the artistic goal of beauty portrayed and the development of modern movements in the striping back layers to reveal that that was not previously considered beautiful. The modern art concept of ugly as beautiful is explored using examples such as Damien Hurst’s formaldehyde cows and the work of Jackson Pollack and Pablo Picasso. This theory was replicated in architecture by the modernist movement and obsession with transparency. This highbrow ethic is countered by a discourse of the notion of masks. From clothes, make-up and material possessions to psychological barriers these are all an opposite to modern movements in art and architecture.
Farrelly explores the invasion of fat in our daily existence, from suburban ‘McMansions’ (identical super-sized homes) to obesity and the increasing consumption levels in western culture. She states that blubber (fat) is that physical manifestation of our over-indulgent society. She notes how we always desire a better home, bigger portions of food and the latest gadgets. She identifies the problem that homes-ownership causes in fuelling the constant desire to improve, expand and beautify one’s home for no innate need. She details that the ugly and kitsch has become socially acceptable and has created neighbourhoods and districts that hark back to a retro era with follies of historical buildings. These lack the historical context, therefore have no cultural weight, heighten our discomfort with these surroundings, and increase our desire to seek ‘real’ culture (usually through tourism).
The environmental impact of our lifestyles is one of increasing concern, she writes, however the problem and solution maybe not as obvious as one might think. She states that the average modern New Yorker uses a quarter of the CO2 emissions compared the national average, primarily down to their use of public transportation, walking and living in a dense city. Suburban living encourages the use of the car and relies on a proportionally large supply chain to feed it. The notion of moving house to the suburbs to be closer to nature is an oxymoron in Farrelly’s view. She argues that the car actively discourages social interaction and personal well-being by cocooning us in our own personal bubble and isolating us from our surroundings and aiding sensory deprivation and social detachment.
The impact of feminism on the built environment and consumerism is identified and explored. Farrelly states the gather instincts of the female and their increasing personal affluence drives the design of shopping malls and the obsession of society on safety. In the absence of any likely threat to their brood, their desire to protect is manifested in the gated communities, enclosed malls and the use of the car. She states that through the decoration of the home and person they are misplacing their natural urges to protect, nurture and develop.
Farrelly asks how, with all our money, influence, knowledge and resources, we still manage to produce such ugly buildings and cities, and contribution to the destruction of our natural planet. She details how the democracy combined with capitalism has created an immovable beast that is incapable of acting in our best interests. The naturally right-wing conservative leanings that this political stance induces are incapable of progressing our society in a radical manner.
In her conclusion, Farrelly describes her vision for the future for cities and humanity. Predictably, this details the virtual eradication of the personal car, but surprisingly encourages the city and urges us to build denser. This removal of the reliance on the car, the promotion of cycling and walking would encourage social interaction and natural health. She identifies that the new currency will be the joule, in reference to the increasing relevance of energy on our financial systems.
The informal nature of Blubberland results in the text reading as a tapped stream of thought. This is countered by numerous historical and pop references and statistics that embellish the chapters. Whilst the historical and artistic theory read a little arduous and the religious commentaries are incomplete in the absence of any non-Christian views, the book overall is inspiring. Her analysis of home-ownership on the financial system and political scene seem surprisingly timely given the recent ‘credit-crunch’. The views on empowerment of women and their contribution to the modern built environment are interesting and the flight of fantasy that is her ‘I have a dream’ conclusion is refreshingly imaginative. This book would have enforced my dissertation’s concept of sensorial architecture, through its rejection of the fake, the kitsch and desire for beauty.
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