Debate on Beijing civic architecture triggers ‘nationalistic’ sentiments
Venkatesan Vembu
Friday, January 19, 2007 21:07 IST
HONG KONG: In Ayn Rand’s epochal novel The Fountainhead, the brilliant
but uncompromising architect Howard Roark riles against “architectural
monstrosities” that pander to crass, commercial tastes - and fights a
lonely and wearisome battle to uphold “the triumphant role of creators”.
In Beijing today, in the run-up to next year’s Olympics, a similar
battle centred around civic architecture is being waged, but this time
from the platform of ‘nationalism’ vs ‘foreign influences’.
It is symbolic of the cultural upheaval that rapidly modernising China
is going through, and it is a measure of the intensity of the emotions
it has triggered that plans for urban infrastructure for a sporting
event have been elevated to the level of a debate on China’s national
identity.
cont'd....
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1075314