WAr
115
It is simply trivial to entertain the possibility of meaning, whether people still retain their faith in this patriotic symbol even after its makeover, or deem it as forever dissolved into the abyss of its new semblance. In either case, the relevance of meaning becomes compromised and strictly interpretive. The death of symbol in this case gives birth to a purity of form that is not driven by historical or cultural value, but rather by its own idiosyncratic performance. Perhaps this is an indication for meaning to move from its volatile ground in function and symbol, to the autonomous aspect of architecture that is known as form. In spite of any cynicism garnered around this claim however, a “duck” is much more purposeful than a dead “duck.” / Notes p. 126