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Presentation
Presentation
In etymological terms, theory, from the Greek the¿ria or the¿ros, means to look at, see, contemplate, but also, consider, speculate. It is a point of view, a perspective on things, their description and, of course, an attempt to understand them, to give them meaning. In general terms, theory can be defined as a way of seeing, understanding, explaining and clarifying events or objects. Theory is also a way of questioning assumptions, present realities and the way in which discourse is formed and maintained. Its task is to make sense of the world and form intelligible narratives, orienting from the particular to the universal through abstraction. It is through the articulation between the abstract and the concrete that theory has the capacity to act, in contrast, for example, with philosophy. This is the capacity that allows theory to be an instrument of intervention, and of change, in a rapidly changing world. Theory is a way of thinking and acting.
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Class from course
Class from course
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Degree | Semesters | ECTS
Degree | Semesters | ECTS
Bachelor; Master Degree | Semestral | 4
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Year | Nature | Language
Year | Nature | Language
4 | Mandatory | Português
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Code
Code
ULHT36-7999
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Prerequisites and corequisites
Prerequisites and corequisites
Not applicable
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Professional Internship
Professional Internship
Não
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Syllabus
Syllabus
The CU is divided into different themes that characterize and interrogate contemporary disciplinary debates. Knowledge and what distinguishes it from information, the digital and artificial intelligence, the human and the post-human, the planet and nature, together with the idea of the common, politics, economy and production, will be some of the guiding themes. Simultaneously, for each debate, a set of buildings and projects that demonstrate its architectural manifestation. As support for the discussion, there is a set of contents and authors that, focusing on different geographies, genres, cultures and disciplines, will serve as starting points for reflection. Obviously, given the infinity of possible answers, a definitive solution is not sought, or even a consensus, for each question.
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Objectives
Objectives
For architectural theory to retain its relevance, it must retain its historical significance as observation (the¿ria) and theater (theã). Whether through essays, images, projects or buildings, theory is always a response to thought and imagination, which in turn are always shaped by a certain perspective. If thought and imagination are historically situated, the possibility of critical thinking at any time depends on the paradigm by which seeing and thinking are constituted. It is possible to see the contingency of thought over time and, thus, trying new ways of accommodating future challenges. More than going through theories more or less established by the disciplinary tradition, it seeks to understand the instruments they used to assert themselves. The objective is not so much to present the different theoretical positions or canonical authors, but to acknowledge the main debates of today.
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Teaching methodologies and assessment
Teaching methodologies and assessment
The classes will be made up mainly by three complementary strands. On the one hand, there will be expositive theoretical sessions about the topics in the program, accompanied by audiovisual material. On the other hand, readings of fundamental essays will be carried out with the students of theoretical themes under study, in order to promote the collective critical debate. Finally, the development of students¿ work by will be monitored throughout the semester through discussion and guidance by the teacher.
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References
References
AURELI, Pier Vittorio, The Project of Autonomy: Politics and Architecture within and against Capitalism. New York, Princeton Architectural Press, 2008
BERARDI, Franco “Bifo”, “The Soul at Work,” in The Soul at Work: From Alienation to Autonomy. Los Angeles: Semiotext(e), 2009, 74-106
BRAIDOTTI, Rosi, The Posthuman. Cambridge: Polity, 2013
BROWN, Wendy, Undoing the Demos: Neoliberalism's Stealth Revolution. New York: Zone Books, 2015
HAN, Byung-Chul, Infocracia, Lisboa, Relógio D’Água, 2022
HARAWAY, Donna, O Manifesto Cyborgue. Lisboa: Orfeu Negro, 2022
MOUFFE, Chantal, “Politics and the Political,” in On the Political. New York: Routledge, 2005, 8-35
NANCY, Jean-Luc, Being Singular Plural. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2000
STENGERS, Isabelle, “The Intrusion of Gaia” in In Catastrophic Times: Resisting the Coming Barbarism. Open Humanities Press, 2015, 43-51
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Office Hours
Office Hours
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Mobility
Mobility
No