Art Deco
... The Encyclopaedia of Art Deco, William Collins Pty Ltd, Sydney, N. ... Duncan discusses the style of Art Deco and many of the issues surrounding it’s origin and revival and describes the shift from the original theories of it’s manifestation to the theories of today. The old theories being that Art Deco was the opposite of Art Nouveau and was intended to replace it. The author then states that this theory itself was replaced by popular opinion of today that Art Deco did not eradicate Art Nouveau but was an accumulation of it and many other previous styles, thus making difficult the task of truly finding an exact definition for the style, this was found to be an ongoing debate. He also makes reference to extensive ornamentation found in both Art Deco and Art Nouveau. Duncan discusses how Modernism replaced Art Deco but did not replace one of it’s main principals, that form should follow function. However, he continues to explain the fall of Art Deco to Modernism due to Art Deco designers catering mainly for the upper class with ornamental pieces that were unique works of art and how they did not work in with technology and mass production of the machine age. Duncan also takes a look at the influence Paris Art Deco architecture had on the American styling of their newest buildings in the 1920’s. ... 1997, Art Deco, Michael Friedman Publishing Group Inc, New York, pp. ... Kim describes Art Deco as a misunderstood decorative design style to all those who were apposed to it, and makes reference to the modernists of the twenties. She describes the irony of the disrespect that modernists had for the style by emphasising the similarities between the two and concludes that the difference is mainly in the fun that Art Deco embraces. Kim also looks at the value Art Deco has as a style that continues to be popular today. Designers are using Art Deco to represent a lot of the same mediums that were in public in the nineteen twenties, however in addition the style has moved into the homes of enthusiasts in the form of ornamental collectables and as a complete theme throughout or if even just for a single room.