FIRST CULTURAL INDUSTRIES- Illustrated Science Fiction

666 Point Architect Purity Test

There are a total of 666 questions. Sum up all your Yes responses and see just how much Architecture has corrupted you! A lot of the questions also apply for Artists, some perhaps more so than they do for Architects, perhaps some time I will make a variant called the "Artist Purity Test".

EDUCATION
#1-25, 25 points possible
Have you studied architecture for
One year?
Two years?
Three years?
Four years?
Five years?
...and not in a five year program?
Graduate school?
Did you enjoy all of it?
Do you have a GPA > 3.5?
...counting only studio classes?
...Without grade inflation?
Do you sacrifice your other classes?
...Do you not take any other classes outside of what's required?
Have you ever TA’d?
...and not because you needed the money?
...or the resume padding either?
Did you know you wanted to be an architect in high school?
...Middle school?
...Elementary school?
...Earlier?
...Add one point if neither of your parents is one
...Do you not regret this choice?
...Did you make this decision against the advice of others?
Was art your second choice?
...or was it your first choice, but you had to eat?

MATHEMATICS
#26-40, 15 points possible
Was Geometry your favorite mathematics course?
...Did you hate all the rest of them?
...Did you barely pass all the rest of them?
...Was it because you were drawing in all of them?
Do you know the Golden Ratio?
...Can you give it to 3 or more significant digits?
...Can you draw it unaided?
...Do you know how to construct it with compass and straightedge?
Do you use fractions instead of decimals?
Can you fold a paper into thirds on the first try?
Can you draw a 90 degree angle without a ruler?
...A 60 degree angle?
...A 45 degree angle?
...A 108 degree angle? (Regular pentagon interior angle)
...In 3-D?

PHYSICAL SCIENCES
#41-50, 10 points possible
Do you take the bare minimum of physical science classes?
Did you barely pass them?
...On the second attempt?
Do you believe that only engineers need to know physics?
Did this come back to haunt you when you had to take the Architect Registration Examination?
Add one point for each of the following elements whose name shows up on an art supply you have used:
Cadmium
Chromium
Lead (you really ought to get new paint)
Titanium
Add one point if this knowledge has ever helped you pass a Chemistry midterm.

LIFE SCIENCES
#51-60, 10 points possible
Have you ever taken a plant biology or botany class?
...Did you spend most of your time in it drawing?
Do you know 10 or more types of trees?
...20 or more?
...Can you indentify the color of the wood of each of them?
Do you own a tree stamp?
Have you ever studied anatomy?
...Outside of class?
Do you not care much for molecular and cellular biology, because you can't see it?
Can you draw DNA but not know what the four bases are?

SOCIAL SCIENCES
#61-70, 10 points possible
Was Art/Architecture History your favorite part of history?
...Was it the only part you understood?
...The only reason you passed?
...Do you know more historical buildings than historical figures?
...Are all of those historical figures architects or artists?
Do you divide history based on art and architecture styles?
Can you give a chronology of Western art and architecture styles?
...Non-Western art and architecture styles also?
...Can you draw in all of them?
...Well?

ARCHITECTURAL KNOWLEDGE- LOCAL
#71-80, 10 points possible
Can you draw your own residence?
...Your place of work or school?
...The local government building?
...Your favorite restaurant?
...The local park?
...Add one point for each of the above that you designed

ARCHITECTURAL KNOWLEDGE- WESTERN ANTIQUITY
#81-100, 20 points possible
Add one point for each of the seven wonders of the world that you know the name and location of.
Do you know the difference between the Parthenon and the Pantheon?
Add one point for each of the above that you can draw.
Have you ever called something the Eighth Wonder of the World?
...Did you design it?
...Does anyone else refer to it as such?

ARCHITECTURAL KNOWLEDGE- GLOBAL
#101-130, 30 points possible
Add one point for each of the following buildings that you can draw. Add another for each for which you actually have. Add a third for each that you know the name of the building in its native language.
The Alhambra
Blue Mosque
Cahokia Mound
Forbidden City
Great Mosque of Timbuktu
Machu Picchu
Osaka Castle
Potala Palace
Pyramid of the Sun
Taj Mahal

ARCHITECTURAL KNOWLEDGE- CONTEMPORARY
#131-150, 20 points possible
Add one point for each of the following buildings that you can draw. Add another if you know the architect. Add a third if you know the architect on a personal basis.
Fallingwater
Bilbao Guggenheim Museum
Louvre Pyramid
Seagram Building
the new World Trade Center to be built in NYC
Does Brutalism bring up any positive feelings?
Have you ever used the word postmodern?
Do you have a favorite architect?
...Do you work in that person's firm?
...Are you that person?

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
#151-160, 10 points possible
Does your level of general knowledge pale in comparison with your level of architectural knowledge?
Have you ever forgotten what someone looks like but remembered their residence?
Do you give directions based on landmarks?
...To people who aren't architects?
...And had them understand?
Do you know what direction North is?
...Do you always?
...Even at night?
Can you read a topographical map?
...Can you draw one?

DRAWING TECHNIQUE
#161-170, 10 points possible
Can you draw in elevation?
...Plan?
...Cross Section?
...Isometric?
...Axinometric?
...One point perspective?
...Two point perspective?
...Three point perspective?
...Four point persepective? (Fisheye view)
Can you do all of the above without a ruler?

DRAWING SUBJECTS
#171-180, 10 points possible
Have you ever done a self portrait?
...With your eyes closed?
...While using your non-dominant hand?
...Could you still recognize what you drew?
Have you ever drawn a building?
...More than ten times?
...On the same day?
...Did you still find it aesthetically pleasing?
Do you draw more buildings than people?
...Does the same apply for your photography?

ABBREVIATIONS
#181-220, 40 points possible
Add one point for each of the following for which you know the meaning. Add another for each that you've ever used in conversation and were understood by the other person. (note: list has slight US bias)
ACSA
AIA
AIAS
ARE
CAD
CMYK
CRP
CTBUH
DPI
ED
GIF
HOK
KPF
NAAB
NBBJ
NCARB
PPI
RGB
SOM
UIA

FILMS
#231-235, 15 points possible
Add one point for each of the following you have watched.
Metropolis (add another if you've seen the anime version as well)
Things to Come
The Fountainhead
The Fifth Element
Blade Runner
Add one point for each of the above that you saw primarily for looking at the architecture in it.
Have you ever saw a movie because of cool looking architecture on the poster?
Do you go to theaters with interesting architecture?
Is it more of an attraction than the film itself?

BOOKS
#236-240, 5 points possible
Do most of your books have pictures in them?
...Do any of them only have pictures?
...Does the book weigh in at >5kg?
...Have you read it cover to cover?
...In one sitting?

VIDEO GAMES
#241-250, 10 points possible
Add one point for each of the following you've played.
Sim City
Sim City 2000
Sim City 3000
Sim City 4
Rampage (any edition)
Have you ever made graphics for a video game?
...Did you do it for money?
...Is that irrelevant?
Have you ever made a first-person shooter level?
...Do you suck at the abovementioned first person shooter?

CHILDHOOD
#251-260, 10 points possible
Did you play with blocks a lot?
Have you ever built an entire city?
Have you ever drawn on the walls?
...After the age of 8?
...Do you still do?
Have you ever ate an art supply?
...To see if your skin would change color?
...Did it?
Did you like to explore buildings?
...Do you still?

RELATIONSHIPS
#261-275, 15 points possible
Are most of your friends also architects or architecture students?
...Are most of the people you know?
Are you unaware of a world existing outside of studio?
Do people in other countries know more about your the news in your country than you do?
Have you ever spent a Friday night drawing?
...Did you also spend the same Saturday night drawing?
...How about the Sunday night on a long weekend?
Have you ever skipped a wedding to draw?
Do you only date among other architects?
...Would it even be feasible to date someone outside of architecture?
...Do you not have time to date at all?
Do engineers have more fun than you?
...Electrical engineers?
...Computer and software engineers?
...Is it not because they have more money?

SPIRITUALITY
#276-285, 10 points possible
Have you ever referred to the Supreme Being as an architect?
Do you know who the Christian patron saint of architects is?
...Do you know that there are indeed two?
...Have you ever prayed to either?
Note: If not Christian, substitute the deities of your beliefs.
Do you believe in Feng Shui?
...Have you ever practiced it?
...For money?
...Was it >$100?
Have you ever designed a religious building?
...One that was actually built?
Note: If you are atheist, add 5 points if you ever have delusions of supernatural power while drawing, 10 if regularly.

PSYCHOLOGY
#286-295, 10 points possible
Do you tend to visualize things?
...in full color?
Have you ever dreamed of architecture?
...Was it the most vivid part of the dream?
...Was it pleasant?
...Was it something you designed?
...As a result of the dream?
Is your definition of personal space larger than most people's?
Have you ever included a subliminal message in your design?
...Subconciously?

PERSONAL APPEARANCE
#296-320, 25 points possible
Is your hair dyed?
...a color that is not naturally existing?
...More than 1 color?
...Has it not been washed in over a week?
...A month?
Is there some sort of ink, paint, or other pigment on your hand?
...Both hands?
...Arms?
Is there paint or ink on your clothing?
...Is it there intentionally?
...Was it impromptu?
Have you ever made your own clothes?
...Did it involve use of a stapler?
Do you wear ceramic jewelry?
...Did you make it yourself?
Do you have a "painting shirt"?
...Are most of your clothes "painting shirts"?
...All of them?
Do you wear glasses with thick frames?
...And thought you looked good in it?
...And had a friend think the same?
FEMALE
Have you ever worn a long skirt?
...Was it a color other than black, white, or gray?
...Did you make it yourself?
...Did it have staples in it?
MALE
Do you have a moustache?
...Do you trim it?
...Do you gel it?
...Have you done that more than once a day?

LIVING SPACE
#321-335, 15 points possible
Is your studio larger than your bedroom?
...Is it your bedroom?
Is your room a mess?
Can you not see the floor?
...The bed?
Is the only visible surface your drawing table?
...Is that not even visible?
Have you painted the walls?
...Windows?
...Ceiling?
...Unintentionally?
...Illegally?
Does your room smell of paint?
...Toxic paint?
...Is the ventilation bad anyway?

FINANCES
#336-345, 10 points possible
Are you broke?
Did you expect to be?
Do you not care?
Do you expect it to remain this way?
Does your husband or wife understand?
Do your parents?
Have you ever sacrificed food to buy art supplies?
...For extended periods of time?
...And thought it was a good move?
Are you a bum?

ART SUPPLIES
#346-365, 20 points possible
Have you ever bought more than $100 of art supplies at a time?
...$500 or more?
...with a credit card?
...with a check?
Do you spend more on supplies than on clothing?
...Than on food?
...Than on your boyfriend/girlfriend?
...Than on all of the above combined?
Do you know at least 5 art supply stores?
...10 or more?
...Do they know you?
...Does the manager?
...Do you have their numbers on speed dial?
Do you own an art supply toolbox?
...2 or more?
...Is it never big enough?
...Is it bigger than your backpack?
...Is it your backpack?
Have you ever justified the purchase of a motor vehicle for the purpose of carrying your art supplies?
...Was it a truck?

PENCILS
#366-410, 45 points possible
Add one point for every degree of of pencil you own (2B, 6B, HB, 4H, etc.)
Do you know how many degrees of shade there are in a full range?
...Can you name all of them?
...Do you own all of them?
...Multiple sets?
...Mechanical?
Do you why an F pencil is called an F?
Do you own a pencil extender?
...2 or more?
Do you own a pencil sharpener?
...5 or more?
...10 or more?
...One with a pencil shavings compartment?
...an electric one?
...a wall mount one?
...a stolen one?
Do you carry around a pencil sharpener?
...Is it the electric one?
Do you carry pencils in your pocket?
...Front pocket?
...On your ear?
Do you own colored pencils?
...50 or more?
...100 or more?
...5 kilograms or more?
Have you ever used up an entire colored pencil?

ERASERS
#411-420, 10 points possible
Do you own 10 or more erasers?
...50 or more?
Have you ever used up an eraser in a week?
...In a day?
...On one drawing?
Do you own a kneaded eraser?
...Do you play with it?
...Do you make art with it?
Do you own an electric eraser?
...Did you make it yourself? (Note: See Engineer Purity Test)

CHARCOAL, PASTELS, ETC
#421-435, 15 points possible
Do you own charcoal?
...Of more than one color?
Do you know what a tortillon is? (Hint, it's not food)
Do you know what a shammie is?
Do you know what a Conte crayon is?
Add one point for each of the above you own.
Do you own pastels?
...Oil Pastels?
...Of more than one shade of gray?
Do you own colored chalk?
...Are you 8 years or older?
...And not a student activist at UC Berkeley?
Do you own crayons and are 8 years or older?

PENS
#436-470, 35 points possible
Do you own more than 10 ballpoint pens?
...50 or more?
...100 or more?
...Too many to keep track of?
...A green one?
...More than one shade of green?
...5 or more different colors?
...10 or more?
...Did you actually buy any of them?
...In bulk?
Do you own a rollerball pen?
How about a gel pen?
...Add one point if you're not Asian
Do you own a fountain pen?
...Do you know how to use it?
...Is it the primary pen you use?
...Is it refillable?
Do you own a Rapidograph?
...5 or more?
...10 or more?
Do you own a dip pen?
...Do you carry it with you all the time?
...with 5 or more tips?
...10 or more?
Have you actually used all of them?
Have you ever bought ink?
...More than one type?
...Can you tell the difference without looking at the label?
...By smell alone?
Is there a bottle of ink within a 1 meter radius of you right now?
...Is it open?
...Should it be open?
...Is the lable illegible?
...Have you lost the lid to it?
...If so, is that normal?

PAPER
#471-485, 15 points possible
Do you own more than 100 sheets of drawing paper?
...500 or more?
...1000 or more?
...More than your supply of printer paper?
...More than your supply of lined paper?
Do you not own any lined paper at all?
Can you name more than 10 types of paper?
...20 or more?
...Have you drawn on all of them before?
Do you own grid paper?
...Of more than one scale?
...Of both Metric and US scale?
...Is it larger than A4 or 8.5"x11"?
...Do you carry it around with you anyway?
...Is it in a sketchbook?

BRUSHES
#486-505, 20 points possible
Do you own a paintbrush?
...10 or more?
...50 or more?
...Do you not have enough coffee cans to hold them all in?
...Are any of them industrial types?
...Are most of them discolored from use?
Do you own an Asian brush?
...Add one point if you're not Asian
Do you know how to use an airbrush?
...Do you own one?
Do you know what a drafting brush is?
...Do you own one?
...Do you use a hair dryer instead?
Have you ever drawn on a brush?
Do you give your brushes names?
Have you ever used a sponge brush?
Does your art box include a toothbrush?
...Is it there for those extended studio stays?
How about a hairbrush?
...Does it have additional uses?

PAINT
#506-520, 15 points possible
Do you own acrylic paint?
Do you own tempera paint?
Do you own model paint?
...Have you ever gotten high off of it?
...Unintentionally?
Do you own oil paint?
Do you own watercolor paint?
Do you own gouache?
...Do you know what it is?
Can you mix your own colors with red, yellow, blue, white and black?
...Are those the only colors you own?
Do you own more than one palette?
...Is it actually a real palette and not something from last night's takeout?
...Can you not tell what the original color of it was?
Have you ever bought paint in powdered form?

ADHESIVES
#521-540, 20 points possible
Do you own masking tape?
Duct tape?
...Of more than one color?
Electrical tape?
Clear tape?
Fiber tape?
Do you wear it on your person?
Have you ever used a drafting dot?
Do you own a glue stick?
White glue?
Super Glue?
Hot melt glue?
Spray adhesive?
Model cement?
Modge Podge?
Industrial adhesives?
Have you ever used chewing gum when none of the above was available?
...Is any of the above stuck to you right now?
Do you have furniture held up by any of the above?
...Was it made by you?

MEASURING EQUIPMENT
#541-560, 20 points possible
Do you own a ruler?
...Is it more than 30 cm long?
...60 cm?
...1 meter?
...Does it have more than two sides?
...Is it metal
...Does it have rollers?
...Do you carry it with you at all times?
Do you own a T-square?
Are you familiar with Mayline products?
Do you own a protractor?
...a 360 degree one?
Do you own a compass?
...and used it outside of Geometry?
Do you own measuring tape?
Do you own a triangle?
...Is it variable angle?
Do you own a curve template?
...5 or more?
Do you not have any need for any of this equipment?

CUTTING EQUIPMENT
#561-570, 10 points possible
Do you own an utility knife?
A box cutter?
A paper cutter?
Do you use up more razor blades for art than for shaving?
Do you not shave at all?
Do you have more art knives than cooking knives?
...Are they one and the same?
Do you own a sharpening stone?
...Have you used it in the last week?
...Do you carry it with you?

MATERIALS
#571-580, 10 points possible
Add one point for each of the following that you've worked with.
Acetate plastic
Acrylic plastic
Balsa wood
Bass wood
Foam board
Matte board for a purpose other than matting
Non-electrical wire
Sheet metal
Styrofoam
Add one point if you've ever used all of the above on one project.

COMPUTER
#581-620, 40 points possible
Is your monitor 17 inches or bigger?
...>17 inches?
...>19 inches?
...Is it LCD?
...Is it on your laptop?
...Does the desktop background display something you made?
Do you use a Mac?
Do you have more than one printer?
...Can it print in >600 dpi?
Do you own a scanner?
...Is it bigger than A4 or 8.5"x11" size?
Do you know what a tablet is?
...Do you own one?
...Did you pay more than $100 for it?
Can you name 10 graphic file types?
...20 or more?
Do you know what vector graphics are?
Do you draw exclusively with them?
Have you ever used Adobe Photoshop or equivalent?
AutoCAD or equivalent?
3D Studio Max or equivalent?
Dreamweaver or equivalent?
...Have you ever ran two or more of the above simultaneously?
Do you have a website to exhibit stuff made in above programs?
Do you frequent other websites that exhibit such material?
...Do they link to yours?
Is your computer knowledge limited to graphics programs?
Do you never have enough RAM?
Do you never have enough hard disk space?
Do you know what color #FFFFFF corresponds to?
Do you know what color 255,0,0 corresponds to?
Add 1 point for each of the following terms you understand:
Flood Fill
Crop
Boolean
Gamma Correction
Histogram
Layer
Extrude
Raytracer

SKETCHBOOK
#621-635, 15 points possible
Do you keep a sketchbook?
...More than one at the same time?
...Is it A4 or 8.5" x 11" or larger?
...Does it have special paper?
...Do you use it more than your notebook?
...Is the cover decorated?
...More than once?
...Is it significantly thicker than when it started?
...Enough to require reinforcement of the binding?
...Does it smell?
...Good?
Have you ever used a sketchbook in a non-art class?
...For its entire duration?
...Throughout the semester?
...Was the class webcast?

EATING
#636-645, 10 points possible
Have you ever skipped a meal?
...Two or more consecutive ones?
...Ever gone on a hunger strike unintentionally?
Do you eat more snacks than real food?
...Are you unaware of that?
Have you ever accidentally ate or drank an art supply?
...Were you more concerned over the loss of the above art supply?
...Did it taste good?
...Did it ever happen a second time?
Do you eat most of your meals in cafes?

SLEEPING
#646-655, 10 points possible
Ever pulled an all nighter?
...Two or more consecutive ones?
...5 or more?
...Was it enjoyable?
...Was it voluntary?
Would you rather draw than sleep?
Have you ever slept in studio?
...Do you have a sofa there for that purpose?
Are you skipping sleep to take this test?
...Do you not care?

CAFFEINE
#656-665, 10 points possible
Do you own a coffeemaker?
...Is it being used right now?
Do you know all the cafes in a one kilometer radius of your residence?
...Do they know you?
Have you ever consumed more than one gallon or 4 liters of coffee in one night?
...Was it expresso?
Do you drink Jolt Cola, Surge, Red Bull or other caffeine drinks regularly?
...Are you drinking it right now?
Have you ever taken caffeine pills?
...Ever take more than the recommended quantity?

BONUS QUESTION
#666, 1 points possible
Are you reading this from a computer in the studio?

SCORING
0: Recheck your score. Are you sure you're not from the Stone Age?
1-100: You can't draw a straight line with a ruler.
101-200: It's not too late to turn back yet.
201-300: Welcome to the studio!
301-400: You've had caffeine poisoning at least once.
401-500: Hopefully you've graduated already...
501-600: I hope you have your own practice to make this all worthwhile.
601-650: You must be one of those real architects.
651-665: There's more to life than just buildings.
666: Never mind the score, you're the god of architecture.

The maker of this test scored 301 out of 666 possible points. That was 2 years ago.

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