Celebrity and architects. The significance of celebrity in relation to the professional legitimisation of American architects in the 1970s and 1980s: a case study

Abstract

The late twentieth century saw the emergence of a theoretical discourse concerned with celebrity culture. Within this discourse, celebrity has largely been framed as a negative force in relation to the profession of architecture. This thesis challenges that position by reinvestigating the relationship between architects and the media during the “starchitect boom” of the late 1970s and 1980s in the United States of America. With thirty years of historical retrospect now available since the arrival of the “starchitect” phenomenon, this thesis provides a new perspective on the impact of celebrity culture on architectural practice. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s theories of legitimacy, the investigation argues that celebrity may be used as a means of gaining professional consecration: that is, recognition by peers. Traditionally, legitimacy has been achieved by such methods as publication in the professional media, institutional appointments, awards and exhibitions. In this investigation celebrity is identified as an extra layer in this process. As a means of supporting this argument the career trajectory of one of the most high-profile American “starchitects” of the 1970s and 1980s, Michael Graves, provides a case study.