Responce to “THE PERSISTENCE OF CRAFT”

The fist thing that struck me about this reading is all the subtle and profound insights Paul Greenhaulgn had in  his inputs, and assertions about the craft realm. His conclusions about craft in the socio-economic, and political spectrums with high art and design relative to craft are intriuging. In one paragraph paul sustians that unique craft objects are sold at mass price. A painting in itself it bought and sold at intrinsically higher prices. I agree with the notion that price value in a sense dictates the art work’s hierarchal value. The idea of the collective cultural memory  encompasing the  material of clay for  example is a good point to touch upon.  Paul  writes, “when a piece of ceramic  is held it conveys through the inherent symbolism of its  materiality, ten thousand years of activity.” It was new to me to understant the gender role retaliation of women, specifically Judy Chicago using ceramics in her work. I was also interested to read about how culture illuminates craft in different perspectives. The Britons according to Paul would rather make pots than look at the pots of others, while the japanese revere pots as fine art.

stagflation

Our economy is heading toward a recession in the form of underemployment, and over-inflation. The combination of both predictably results in a downward spiral of consumed goods and a demoralized working class with marginal income. In an attempt to stop this inevitable economic process the Federal reserve commission have raised credit to banks, and loan companies and other financial institutions. The government has even poured money into the dwindling stock market. An economic recession is a natural process of inflation due to rising wages which results in higher prices of consumed goods. Counteracting the consequences of a moderate recession today may lead to greater recession in the future, or so some believe.