Early twentieth-century functionalist architects rejected the ornamental excesses of the Victorian era, proposing instead that form should strictly follow function. While traditionalists decried this stripped-down aesthetic as sterile, the new philosophy began to run counter to prevailing academic design standards, gradually displacing classical symmetry in major municipal commissions. By the 1930s, what had once been dismissed as a radical whim of the avant-garde had successfully established itself as the dominant paradigm of urban development.
As it is used in the passage, the phrase 'run counter to' most nearly means:
- go againstAnswer
- Bphysically sprint toward a checkout desk
- Cmount a retaliatory defense against
- Dactively compete with
Answer
go against
In the context of the passage, the functionalist philosophy is described as opposing or contradicting the prevailing academic design standards, as evidenced by its role in 'gradually displacing' classical symmetry. Therefore, the phrase 'run counter to' most nearly means to go against.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Determining the meaning of idioms and phrasal expressions in context using surrounding textual clues.
Estimated Time:1m 30s