Using History

"Why study history?" is a worldwide asked question. Many say that history is the past that we do not need to cover since it is just events that already happened written in a book. But, to be capable of understanding this, we must first explore the true definition of history. History, according to the dictionary, means “the knowledge, study, or record of past events” and “pattern of events determining the future” (dictionary.com)
We use history, not only to understand our past, but also to DETERMINE the future. For example, if we look at the overall picture of history through a timeline, it can be seen that history repeats itself over time. What is the difference between post-modernism and renaissance? One may say that it is totally different in which the Renaissance is ornamented and Post-modernism plays with simple forms or whatsoever, but if we look conceptually, both of it is mimicking, or playing with a concept established in an earlier date. Renaissance is using Classicism, while Post-modernism is playing with Modernism. We may be centuries away from when Burnellisky started his manifesto, but we are now creating manifestos similar to the ones that were established hundreds of years ago. Going further, what is the difference between Modernism and Classicism. In ancient Rome, there were not much technology. Human beings were the greatest invention at that time. Humans could create pyramids, cathedrals, or whatever they could think of at that time. Again, Humans were the greatest invention. Therefore, why not create architectural forms abstracted from the human form if they were the strongest at that time? That was the Roman's thoughts, which I would say, is pretty much similar to Modernism. After centuries past, humans created factories, robots, and machinery. Nowadays, what we think is the strongest invention is not humans anymore, but robots. They are stronger, can carry more, and can produce more. Why not crate architectural forms abstracted from machines?

Nothing starts absolutely from zero. New forms may be created, but the conceptual thinking has already happened years ago only in a different format. By knowing history, we can use this concept to apply it to what we face in today's society