English and Architecture

I am an English major thinking about pursuing a minor in Architectural History, and today I thought about the fact that these are two very different subjects.  So why am I so interested in both of them? This is my attempt to reconcile my love for both English and Architecture...

For one thing, there are many similar aspects of abstract ideas represented in both subjects. Both utilize the ability to create and study.
In English, you can be a writer or an analyzer or both. As a writer, you create. You build a story around your own ideas, even when writing non-fiction. Writing gives the opportunity to give way to a new piece that other people can enjoy, critique, or analyze. On the other hand, someone constantly studying writing--say, an editor or publisher--interprets works of literature in the way he or she chooses based upon the ideas drawn from said works. The two complement each other: the writer takes basic ideas and life-lessons and creates a story around them while the analyzer draws out the ideas after studying a work. And of course, one can do both; the easiest way is by writing about writing.
Architecture is similar in that it contains the creator and the historian. An architect creates something new from their own vision. Perhaps their are elements of already existing buildings or natural forms, but they must think of something novel that serves a particular function. An architectural historian studies architecture built by someone else. He or she examines elements such as style, materials, symbolism, aesthetic, and purpose to find and explain the meaning behind building and other man-made structures.

Another way I've reconciled the my two primary interests is through metaphor. It's probably cheesy and cliche, but it actually makes sense. You can see architecture in writing. In order to write well, one must have a strong foundation, in more than one sense. First, one must have some knowledge of how to write. Without any education, it is most likely impossible to write cohesively and interestingly. Secondly, each specific piece of writing must have the basic intent clear before any stylization can occur. Next, one must have a knowledge of structure. Knowing how to order and form a piece of writing is essential to its quality. Finally, after the foundation and basic structure, embellishment can occur. It is up to the writer to determine the kind of decoration he or  she wants to give to the piece. One may choose to dress it up formally, making sure the tone is convincing and balanced. Another person will keep the paper stark and simple, telling only what the reader needs to know, much like the form-follows-function style of architecture. Another person might be more playful, adding unexpected elements to add some offbeat surprise to the piece.

The final way in which I can understand my love for both English and Architecture is the sense of permanence both contain. Though I was informed by my American Architecture professor today that the lifespan of today's buildings is about 25 years, there is something about creating a space that people use everyday in their lives that evokes some sort of transcendence. Of course, there are also the buildings we think of that have lasted thousands of years--the Egyptian pyramids, Greek and Roman temples, and Stonehenge, for example. Writing can also cement someone in history, and whether Foucault likes it or not, we all know the names Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and J.K. Rowling. As someone who has never particularly wanted to lead or have too much power, I think English and Architecture offer a different way to make a distinct, individual mark on the world.

Fin.