The Container Principle

This explores the cultural history of shipping containers as a crucible of globalization and a cultural paradigm. Standardized containers carry material goods across oceans and land, providing shelter, office space, and storage capacity. Today, TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit) has become a global currency. Container ships, sailing under the flag of one country but owned by a corporation headquartered in another, represent the increasing, world-is-flat globalization of the international economy. This examines the container as a time capsule, revealing artifacts of our culture, explaining the "Matryoshka principle," exploring land-water transport history, and charting the three phases of container history. He also examines the rise of logistics, the containerization of computing, the architecture of container-like housing, and artistic projects inspired by containers.

This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.