Architects on the Cover of Time Magazine

• Published in: The international journal of the image Vol. 2; no. 1; pp. 83 - 98
• Main Author: Drummond, Alanya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lisbon Common Ground Research Networks 2012
• Subjects: Architects; Celebrities
• ISSN: 2154-8560; 2154-8579
• DOI: 10.18848/2154-8560/CGP/v02i01/44241

Since the first issue of Time magazine in 1923, fifteen architects have graced its cover. As the world’s most highly distributed weekly news publication, the cover of Time has typically been allocated to individuals of political and economic power and, more recently, celebrities and entertainment figures. The appearance of architects within this framework of power and fame signifies an evolution of the interest and relevance of architecture to the general public. The twentieth century was an era in which architects broke the boundary of trade and professional journals, resulting in a strong representation in mainstream publications such as Time. The analysis contextualises the publication of Time covers within the career evolution of each architect, identifying the role that their appearance played in their path towards fame. This paper provides an overview of these fifteen instances of heightened media exposure, focusing in particular on the issues featuring Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier and Philip Johnson. Ultimately, this paper creates a link between celebrity and the publication of architects on the cover of Time.