Abstract
Our current western society is efficiency-driven and requires us to specialize, hereby restricting access to various forms of craft (Sennett, 2008). It is against this background that Sennett places his concept of the classic craftsmen, not only recognizing the playful elements in work, but also the strong value of communities and collaboration (Bierens, 2010). A comparable approach is to be found nowadays in the Do It Yourself (DIY)-communities of engaged professional-amateurs, who pursue rather professional standards in their DIY-activities (Leadbeater & Miller, 2004). Within this framework of practitioners who strongly engage in their DIY-group and hence create a community with its own codes and citizenship, the objective of this paper is twofold.
First, we investigate how the concepts of the classic craftsmen and their communal workshops (Sennett, 2008) are embodied (or not) in various DIY-communities nowadays. Hereby, four DIY-communities were selected, covering different DIY-interests and organizing practices: a carnival group (craft/offline) a cake baker community (craft/online), a Drupal group (ICT/online) and a hackers group (ICT/offline) were interviewed and observed between October 2009 and February 2010 .
Second, we questioned whether these characteristics of craftsmanship could facilitate the critical engagement and citizenship in the DIY-communities. Although the investigated communities interpreted the aspects of craftsmanship differently, some aspects nevertheless generally occured: strong value on expertise rather than certificates, creation of an own subculture with ethical and qualitative demands, organic planning, partnerships and commitment to the community.
As these aspects, however differently interpreted, appeared in the four communities, we believe that these characteristics of craftsmanship could facilitate the engagement in a DIY-community with its own codes and citizenship.
References
Bierens, C. (2010). 'Hoofd zoekt hand. Over ambachtelijkheid'; in: De Groene Amsterdammer, vol 10, April 2010.
Leadbeater, C., & Miller, P. (2004). 'The Pro-Am Revolution: How Enthusiasts are Changing our Economy and Society'; London: Demos.
Sennett, R. (2008). 'The Craftsman'; New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
First, we investigate how the concepts of the classic craftsmen and their communal workshops (Sennett, 2008) are embodied (or not) in various DIY-communities nowadays. Hereby, four DIY-communities were selected, covering different DIY-interests and organizing practices: a carnival group (craft/offline) a cake baker community (craft/online), a Drupal group (ICT/online) and a hackers group (ICT/offline) were interviewed and observed between October 2009 and February 2010 .
Second, we questioned whether these characteristics of craftsmanship could facilitate the critical engagement and citizenship in the DIY-communities. Although the investigated communities interpreted the aspects of craftsmanship differently, some aspects nevertheless generally occured: strong value on expertise rather than certificates, creation of an own subculture with ethical and qualitative demands, organic planning, partnerships and commitment to the community.
As these aspects, however differently interpreted, appeared in the four communities, we believe that these characteristics of craftsmanship could facilitate the engagement in a DIY-community with its own codes and citizenship.
References
Bierens, C. (2010). 'Hoofd zoekt hand. Over ambachtelijkheid'; in: De Groene Amsterdammer, vol 10, April 2010.
Leadbeater, C., & Miller, P. (2004). 'The Pro-Am Revolution: How Enthusiasts are Changing our Economy and Society'; London: Demos.
Sennett, R. (2008). 'The Craftsman'; New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | DIY Citizenship: Critical Making and Social Media, 11-13 November 2010, Toronto,Canada |
Publication status | Published - 11 Nov 2010 |
Event | Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet - Stockholm, Sweden Duration: 21 Sep 2009 → 25 Sep 2009 |
Conference
Conference | Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet |
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Country/Territory | Sweden |
City | Stockholm |
Period | 21/09/09 → 25/09/09 |
Keywords
- DIY culture practices