Inhabited Machines and Models in Film, presentations by Moritz Gleich and Sarine Waltenspül, Neighbours Vol. 4 by TPOD, THEMA, HITAM

In this presentation, media scholars Moritz Gleich and Sarine Waltenspül will present and discuss their recently published books, exploring the proximity that exists between architecture and media studies.

Moritz Gleich will present Inhabited Machines (Birkhauser, 2023). Around 1800, one of the most influential architectural concepts of the last 250 years emerged – that of built spaces as machines. Dissected and scrutinized by later writers, the notion of the architectural machine has enjoyed significant currency. But could the modern interpretation of the historical term be too narrow? Taking the themes of domestic climate, morality, and comfort, this in-depth and richly illustrated study examines the evidence afresh – with nuanced yet surprising results.

For her part, Sarine Waltenspül will present Modelle im Film (Diaphanes, 2024). Cinematographic models can be found in films of almost every genre and era, whether due to the unavailability of life-size objects, budgetary constraints, or simply fetishism. Despite their enduring presence in the history of cinema, scale models have often remained invisible - not only in the films themselves, but also in film historiography. What might a history of cinema look like that focuses on small, seemingly marginal, and mostly invisible material objects instead of great directors, expensive films, ingenious inventions, and much-quoted theories?