Art versus craft
I really enjoy the mini-documentary program How It’s Made that is carried by my local cable network. A chance to see the nitty-gritty of the industrial process. A glimpse of machines in all their glory, without any of the inherent noise, dust or need to wear a hardhat and steeltoed boots. And, in time bites that don’t last eight hours or thirty years. The series even has its own bilingual website, where you can ponder on the amount you would know if you watched all sixty-five episodes.
The real detail here is not the product but the process. Consider the lowly button. Produced by the millions, worn by all but the richest among us (or the poorest; I guess a simple toga doesn’t need one). Each one so similar to it’s neighbour as to be identical. But, the process is almost magic (in the sense that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” – Arthur C. Clarke). The subtle genius of a huge cetrifugal drum with layers of resin, that will provide belts which can be sent through a punch press to provide button stock ready for machining. How did someone think that up?
An artist is content to produce an object which is unique. A craftsman is content to produce objects which are uniform, instead of unique. Industry is content to produce objects which are unique by their sameness. Full circle.
