Jorge Gorostiza on the Elusive Common Man in Architecture and Film

In a recent essay on Veredes, Jorge Gorostiza reflects on the difficulty of defining the 'common man' in architecture and cinema. He cites an anecdote from producer Al Ruddy, who studied at the USC School of Architecture and recalled a story by Frank Lloyd Wright: two architects, unable to agree on a design, ask a janitor for his opinion, only to have him say one design is his preference but the 'common man' would prefer the other. Gorostiza questions the pursuit of popularity, arguing that the most popular buildings and films are not necessarily the best. He references the 2022 book 'Hollywood: The Oral History' by Jeanine Basinger and Sam Watson, which includes interviews with art directors Mitchell Leisen, Harry Horner, Robert Boyle, Richard Sylbert, and Ken Adam. Gorostiza warns against trusting autobiographical accounts, as filmmakers may embellish or forget facts. He concludes that measuring influence by follower count or likes is misguided, as quality does not equate to popularity.