Preservation of Craftsmanship at National Level

Rick · 14th April 2005, 04:53 PM

Oh I agree Rivkin , the average consumer cannot afford the masterpieces so they settle for something that looks good at an affordable price .
I think though that this is nothing new in the art and craft world .

It has always been the wealthy patron that has kept the best of anything alive be it food , art , yachts or automobiles .

I'm not sure if I am drifting away from Antonio's original question here ,(probably am

)

Battara · 14th April 2005, 05:09 PM

But Rick, I think you have a point (besides the one on your head

). It has been wealthy patrons who commissioned works of weapory art, most being court nobility. In today's world, outside of government, it will be the same like it is with custom knife making here in the US (as had been previously mentioned).

Rick · 14th April 2005, 05:22 PM

I think the Chinese government has many bigger and more important fish to fry at this point in their existence .

I also remember that this culture once had great fleets of treasure ships and then abruptly ended the venture .
Didn't they also invent the clock and then abandon its use at one point in history ?

I would not be surprised that when they get their ducks more in a row that they will turn more and more to encouraging traditional artisans .

VANDOO · 14th April 2005, 05:57 PM

DURING THE PERIOD OF COMMUNIST TAKEOVER AFTER THE NATIONALISTS WERE DEFEATED IN CHINA, ALL THINGS TRADITIONAL WERE FROWNED UPON BY THE RED GAURD. MANY EXAMPLES WERE MADE OF PEOPLE AND MANY THINGS DESTROYED IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THE NEW ORDER OF THE LITTLE RED BOOK. TODAY CHINA IS INTERESTED IN BUILDING WEALTH AND GAINING POWER, MILITARY AND OTHERWISE TO AQUIRE MORE TERRITORY. THEY ARE OUT TO BE THE NUMBER ONE POWER IN THE WORLD AND HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE AND DETERMINATION TO DO SO. BUYING UP RAW MATERIALS AND USING THEIR LARGE AND INEXPENSIVE WORKING CLASS TO PRODUCE CRAFTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND UNDERSELLING EVERYONE ELSE IS HELPING TO BUILD THIS WEALTH/ POWERBASE. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING AS LONG AS THEIR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT TRY TO USE FORCE TO TAKE WHAT THEY WANT AND IMPROVES THE LIVES OF THEIR PEOPLE. HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE WEALTH COULD BE USED TO KEEP TRADITIONAL CRAFTS GOING UP TO THEIR PAST AND CURRENT QUALITY.

ONE SURE WAY TO PRESERVE THE TRADITIONAL TECKNIQUES AND KNOWLEGE WOULD BE TO FIND THE MASTERS AND FILM ALL THEIR TECKNIQUES AND SECRETS. A FILM AND A BOOK OF THEIR INSTRUCTIONS AND TECKNIQUE STEP BY STEP WOULD AT LEAST GIVE A FUTURE CRAFTSMAN INFORMATION TO START WITH. THIS WOULD BE IMPOSIBLE IN MANY INSTANCES AS THE MASTERS WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO SHARE ALL THEIR SECRETS. LEARNING FROM THE MASTER DIRECTLY AS AN APPRENTENCE IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN FROM BOOKS OR FILMS AS HE IS THERE TO CORRECT YOUR MISTAKES AND GIVE YOU ADVICE. SOMETIMES THE OLD WAYS ARE BEST

14th April 2005, 04:53 PM	#1
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Oh I agree Rivkin , the average consumer cannot afford the masterpieces so they settle for something that looks good at an affordable price . I think though that this is nothing new in the art and craft world . It has always been the wealthy patron that has kept the best of anything alive be it food , art , yachts or automobiles . I'm not sure if I am drifting away from Antonio's original question here ,(probably am )

14th April 2005, 05:09 PM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	But Rick, I think you have a point (besides the one on your head ). It has been wealthy patrons who commissioned works of weapory art, most being court nobility. In today's world, outside of government, it will be the same like it is with custom knife making here in the US (as had been previously mentioned).

14th April 2005, 05:22 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	I think the Chinese government has many bigger and more important fish to fry at this point in their existence . I also remember that this culture once had great fleets of treasure ships and then abruptly ended the venture . Didn't they also invent the clock and then abandon its use at one point in history ? I would not be surprised that when they get their ducks more in a row that they will turn more and more to encouraging traditional artisans .

14th April 2005, 05:57 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	DURING THE PERIOD OF COMMUNIST TAKEOVER AFTER THE NATIONALISTS WERE DEFEATED IN CHINA, ALL THINGS TRADITIONAL WERE FROWNED UPON BY THE RED GAURD. MANY EXAMPLES WERE MADE OF PEOPLE AND MANY THINGS DESTROYED IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THE NEW ORDER OF THE LITTLE RED BOOK. TODAY CHINA IS INTERESTED IN BUILDING WEALTH AND GAINING POWER, MILITARY AND OTHERWISE TO AQUIRE MORE TERRITORY. THEY ARE OUT TO BE THE NUMBER ONE POWER IN THE WORLD AND HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE AND DETERMINATION TO DO SO. BUYING UP RAW MATERIALS AND USING THEIR LARGE AND INEXPENSIVE WORKING CLASS TO PRODUCE CRAFTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND UNDERSELLING EVERYONE ELSE IS HELPING TO BUILD THIS WEALTH/ POWERBASE. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING AS LONG AS THEIR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT TRY TO USE FORCE TO TAKE WHAT THEY WANT AND IMPROVES THE LIVES OF THEIR PEOPLE. HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE WEALTH COULD BE USED TO KEEP TRADITIONAL CRAFTS GOING UP TO THEIR PAST AND CURRENT QUALITY. ONE SURE WAY TO PRESERVE THE TRADITIONAL TECKNIQUES AND KNOWLEGE WOULD BE TO FIND THE MASTERS AND FILM ALL THEIR TECKNIQUES AND SECRETS. A FILM AND A BOOK OF THEIR INSTRUCTIONS AND TECKNIQUE STEP BY STEP WOULD AT LEAST GIVE A FUTURE CRAFTSMAN INFORMATION TO START WITH. THIS WOULD BE IMPOSIBLE IN MANY INSTANCES AS THE MASTERS WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO SHARE ALL THEIR SECRETS. LEARNING FROM THE MASTER DIRECTLY AS AN APPRENTENCE IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN FROM BOOKS OR FILMS AS HE IS THERE TO CORRECT YOUR MISTAKES AND GIVE YOU ADVICE. SOMETIMES THE OLD WAYS ARE BEST