Why does America ignore its Architects?

This, from a frustrating Washington Post: article by Roger K. Lewis, professor of architecture at the University of Maryland -

"...There is one other explanation for why architects often may be left out of stories. Unlike Europe and Japan, the United States does not have a fundamentally design-conscious culture. Most American consumers never interact with architects, and few care about architectural authorship, good or bad, associated with buildings they use.

By contrast, in Italy, France, England, Germany or Finland, architecture enjoys high cultural status. When European journalists write about buildings, they routinely identify the architects, who are seen as artists akin to authors, composers or film directors.

American architects are not disrespected by the media or the public. They just haven't had much effect on, or been able to influence, mainstream American culture. If people cared more about the art of architecture, I'm sure the press would report on it."

I'm blaming the red states for this too.

Architecture, by nature is essentially a service-oriented profession. The problem is, however, that architects, by nature, are not service minded people. Many think of themselves as artists, or maybe even writers. So there's this conflict in what people expect of architects, and what architects expect of people. What do we do? How can we make people care more "about the art of architecture?"

more on this when i'm less hungover...

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