The Functional System, or Objective Discourse

I. Structures of Interior Design

The Traditional Environment

The Modern Object Liberated in its Function

The Model Interior

Modular Components

Walls and Daylight

Lighting

Mirrors and Portraits

Clocks and Time

Towards a Sociology of Interior Design?

Man the Interior Designer

II. Structures of Atmosphere

Atmospheric Values: Colour

Traditional Colour

'Natural' Colour

'Functional' Colour

Hot and Cold

Atmospheric Values: Materials

Natural Wood/Cultural Wood

The Logic of Atmosphere

A Model Material: Glass

The Man of Relationship and Atmosphere

Seats

Cultural Connotation and Censorship

Atmospheric Values: Gestural Systems and Forms

The Traditional Gestural System: Effort

The Functional Gestural System: Control

A New Operational Field

Miniaturization

Stylization, Manipulability, Envelopment

The End of the Symbolic Dimension

The Abstractness of Power

The Functionalist Myth

Functional Form: The Lighter

Formal Connotation: Tail Fins

Form as Camouflage

III. Conclusion: Naturalness and Functionality

Addendum: The Domestic World and the Car

The Non-Functional System, or Subjective Discourse

I. Marginal Objects: Antiques

Atmospheric Value: Historicalness

Symbolic Value: The Myth of the Origin

'Authenticity'

The Neo-Cultural Syndrome: Restoration

Synchronism, Diachronism, Anachronism

Reverse Projection: The Technical Object and Primitive Man

The Market in Antiques

Cultural Neo-Imperialism

II. A Marginal System: Collecting

The Object Abstracted from Its Function

The Object as Passion

The Finest of Domestic Animals

A Serial Game

From Quantity to Quality: The Unique Object

Objects and Habits: Wrist-Watches

Objects and Time: A Controlled Cycle

The Sequestered Object: Jealousy

The Object Destructured: Perversion

From Serial Motivation to Real Motivation

A Discourse Addressed to Oneself

The Metafunctional and Dysfunctional System: Gadgets and Robots

Technical Connotation: Automatism

'Functional' Transcendence

Functional Abberation: Gadgets

Pseudo-Functionality: Gizmos

Metafunctionality: Robots

The Transformations of Technology

Technics and the Unconscious System

The Socio-Ideological System of Objects and Their Consumption

I. Models and Series

The Pre-Industrial Object and the Industrial Model

The 'Personalized' Object

Choice

Marginal Difference

The Ideal Nature of Models

From the Model to the Series

The Technical Deficit of the Serial Object

The 'Style' Deficit of the Serial Object

Class Differences

The Present as Privilege

A Misadventure of the Person

The Ideology of Models

II. Credit

Rights and Duties of the Consumer-Citizen

The Precedence of Consumption: A New Ethic

The Obligation to Buy

The Miracle of Buying

The Ambiguity of the Domestic Object

III. Advertising

Discourse on Objects and Discourse-As-Object

Advertising in the Indicative and in the Imperative

The Logic of Father Christmas

Society as Maternal Agency: Airborne's Armchair

The Festival of Buying Power

Gratification/Repression: A Two-Sided Agency

The Presumption of Collectivity

Pax Washing Powder

Promotional Contests

Garap

A New Humanism?

Serial Conditioning

Freedom by Default

A New Language?

Structure and Demarcation: Brands

A Universal Code: Status

Conclusion: Towards a Definition of 'Consumption'