Radicalism

"The word radicalism was derived from the Latin word radix meaning "root"&sbquo and represents an unconscious philosophical aspect behind behavior and activity that sought to thoroughly reexamine&sbquo criticize and reform things and events at their very essence. It is believed that the word was given this meaning when British politician C. J. Fox described the fundamental social reform the was aiming for as a "radical reform". The criteria of radicalism&sbquo however&sbquo are vague. In reality&sbquo "isms" that are contrasted with conservatism - such as Marxism&sbquo which is a form of socialism&sbquo Nazism&sbquo fascism&sbquo and even American progressivism - are simply termed collectively as "radicalism". Historically&sbquo however&sbquo the antiestablishment rebellion against society in the 1960s and '70s centered around the Paris revolution in 1968 was aiming for self-review regarding academic authoritarianism and dedication to the establishment&sbquo and became a worldwide movement that advocated a counterattack against the myth of materialistic growth&sbquo based on critical sociology and existentialistic socialism that claimed to be "dismantling the value system" and "questioning the purpose of acquiring knowledge". While this movement is still being promoted among today's intellectuals&sbquo it falls short of being an organized movement.
While the role of design can be thought to gradually promote social improvement and reform&sbquo it is necessary to acknowledge that the essence of design is encapsulated in the radical reform of every established form. In fact&sbquo visual reform through the embodiment of design&sbquo that is&sbquo the "transformation of designed forms"&sbquo even reforms the sensitive value consciousness itself. In other words&sbquo I'm convinced that design possesses the radicalism to destroy existing myths."

Copyright © 2009 Kazuo KAWASAKI All rights reserved.