In this fascinating piece, Despina Stratigakos analyzes the profile of an architect in Hollywood films- focusing on how they are reflected as a prototypical character -romantic, heroic, and alluring. Particularly, the writer develops a new discourse on the majority of male architects in the Hollywood screens. According to Stratigakos, it is not difficult to grasp why Hollywood would reinforce the stereotype of the white male architect and reflect them as a protagonist, flawless and idealized person within the profession -even if it is not exactly the same in the real profession. 

[...] One of the crucial decisions in the creation of a screen character is the choice of a career, and screenwriters make these choices — craft their characters — on the basis of common assumptions about the professions.

“Many films ? even great ones ? have used occupations as shorthand for personalities or ‘types.''

Male movie-architects are assumed to personify the perfect romantic lead: they are “creative, but not as grubby as musicians; fiscally sturdy, but not as stodgy as bankers; dreamers with briefcases; visionaries of the tangible.”.......Continue Reading

Top image: Clockwise from top left: Gary Cooper, The Fountainhead (1949); Woody Harrelson and Demi Moore, Indecent Proposal (1993); Richard Gere, Intersection (1994); Keanu Reeves, The Lake House (2006). Image courtesy of Places Journal

> via Places Journal