Eclecticism

As eclecticism (from Greek ἐκλεκτός, eklektos, "selected" ) refers to methods that various processes developed and completed systems (eg, styles, philosophies ) make use of and put together its elements. In the case of religions, however, we speak of syncretism rather than of eclecticism.

Eclecticism in the Humanities

The concept has already been in ancient times, about the birth of Christ, embossed. At that time, there were different schools of philosophy side by side and there were thinkers and politicians who were referred to as eclectic because they combined elements of the different positions with each other. The most famous representatives of this trend was Cicero. He took over, especially in his ethical ideas essentially the teachings of the Stoics, where he also infuses values ​​of the Academy and the Peripatetics.

In the humanities, the term characterizes the method to form a new unit from set pieces of different systems, theories or beliefs. Again, the term is usually used pejoratively. This betrays a preference for self-contained, isolated theories to the selection true statements from different theories for non- adoption refuted elements.

Eclecticism in art and architecture

The eclecticism is characteristic of the style of the European art since the beginning of historicism. As an art process is eclecticism of postmodernism for critical reflection on existing material of importance. The term eclectic eclectic or refers to a single work of art, are processed in the various past styles. In view of the respective artistic quality is to distinguish between imitation and own development. The term can be provided with a negative emphasis, when the artist instead of an uncreative own creation selects elements from other works and combines them to form a new plant.

In the architecture of eclecticism is the citing of architectural style elements of several bygone eras on a new building. This methodology can be found in particular in the historicism of the 19th century, but for example, in the 11th century in the southern Italian Romanesque, where an Arab- Byzantine -Norman style was mixed. Likewise, in the postmodern architecture of the 20th century.

An eclectic is the one who chooses which of the existing Suitable him and tried to adapt it to his purposes.

Eclecticism and historicism

Eclecticism is, used analogously to historicism as epochal term. As such epochal term but applies eclecticism as inappropriate because it was at that time also gave different architecture poses. As an alternative designation and delimitation may eclecticism be used against historicism to the then popular style pluralism classify better: So were the numerous neo- styles in architecture (see Romanesque Revival, Gothic Revival, Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Baroque ) is not only a reference to the past history, but also, a location reference, a characterization of the construction project or a consistency of design to manufacture.

Eclecticism can, within my of historicism, even the mixture of styles of apparatus used to form a building.

The term eclecticism may, in connection with the historicism and with pejorative connotation, also represent a criticism of the selective draft process many architects of the 19th century.

Eclecticism as methods term

As part of the architectural design may lead to a selection from existing styles and shapes. It also elements from different models can be combined. These models sometimes come from similar architectural circles ( Roman temple type with Greek columns ) or from completely different ( Renaissance portico next to Egyptian columns and Moorish window frame with a Gothic spire ). In the selection process can temporal references (as in historicism ) or spatial ( as in the exoticism ) play a role.

Eclecticism as methods term can mean within the overall work of an architect, the use of different forms and styles in different buildings, if he applies the respective, different, building task to do justice to.

George Gilbert Scott saw the method of eclecticism positive:

Gottfried Semper other hand, criticized the " disciple of art ," the " be Herbarium full well glued tracings of all kinds " stuffs

Fritz Schumacher differentiated eclecticism as a design method:

Examples

Neoclassical Baroque, St. Etienne du Mont, (1610 - 1622): "The Front facade [ is ] a mixture of a rose window in Gothic style, a portico and pediment of the classic, and a pediment and obelisks of mannerisms ".

Historicism, Palace of Justice in Brussels (1866-1883) by Joseph Poelaert: " The style of the mixture form the apparatus ( eclecticism ) is amazing: Baroque, Renaissance, Roman, Greek and Assyrian itself are interconnected. "

Historicism, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, (1872-1876) by Frank Furness: " The bold, extremely eclectic design has a striking façade with a mixture of motives of Islam, Gothic and Renaissance [ ... ] to".

Central Station of Antwerp, historicism, mixture of many different architectural styles, including Byzantismus, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau