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The slurbs, urban sprawl, and the infinite number, of housing developments of the postwar boom have contributed to the architecture of entropy.
Robert Smithson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects on the negative impact of urban expansion on the environment and societal structures.

Robert Smithson's quote critiques the uncontrolled growth of urban developments that emerged after the war, suggesting that such expansion leads to disorder and deterioration, which he calls the 'architecture of entropy.' By emphasizing the chaotic nature of human development and the resulting effects on the landscape, Smithson encourages a deeper reflection on how modern living spaces may contribute to cultural and environmental degradation.

Themes

UrbanSprawlEntropyArchitectureDevelopment

In practice

Example use cases

During a talk on urban planning, one might quote this to highlight the consequences of unchecked development.

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A vacant white room with lights is still a submission to the neutral. Works of art seen in such spaces seem to be going through a kind of esthetic convalescence.
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