Putting genealogy into perspective : for a genealogical critique of design and designers
Author
Kurtgözü, Aren Emre
Advisor
Mutman, Mahmut
Date
2001Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
In this work, genealogy, as a form of historical critique inaugurated by Friedrich
Nietzsche and later taken up, refined and consolidated by Michel Foucault, has been
extensively studied. Since Foucault was responsible for the refinement and application
of genealogical techniques of analysis in the field of modern disciplines, Foucault's
corpus on the subject has been painstakingly analyzed in order to develop a
genealogical method for the analysis and critique of design discipline. To reveal the
origins of design and its relations to diverse networks of power, the discourse of design
throughout history has been studied in order to compile an inventory of design concepts,
statements, definitions, etc. Definitions of design has been isolated from this inventory
on the assumption that they are most susceptible to genealogical analysis. Then, through
an analysis of design definitions, the specific mechanisms of design discourse through
which designers responded to diverse networks of power has been revealed.