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Other publications referring to this subject of 'To Make'
To make, a non-thought-of factor within Sustainability
Posing the problem
"To Make", what place has it in well being? The human activity of 'making' is more and more replaced by 'consuming'. Is this replacement possible without damage?
Could it be that a positive value for 'making' is an element in the construction of a sustainable society? If, indeed, to be personally engaged in making would show up to be a component of welfare, is an economic realization of it possible? And would this all together be regarded as progress?
Fundamentals of 'Making'
'To Make', as a biological determined ability of human nature can be compared to abilities as communication (speech), sex and aggressiveness. To Make has a genetic history identical to the rest of human development. 'To Make' can be described as an intense interaction between the brain and the hand, supported by the rest of the body. There is a constant feedback of experiences of 'doing' into images of expectation, that go before the next deed of making. Moreover, the coupling of thinking and manual activity is projected on a time path. 'Time' is a consciously included part of assessment and choice.
Making versus Creativity
'To Make' differs from 'being creative'. In creativity someone tries to distinguish, to stand out from its compagnons, whatever the usefull pupose also may be seved with it.
In 'making' someone solves a part of its problems around its identity (feeling alone, excluded) by being busy in an identical, similar or at least regognizable way as the do or could do.
'To make' is akin to social activities as making music, sports, knitting, trifling work (niggling work), spinning. In this Creativity can be incorporated, though this certainly is not a precondition.
'To make' often is of a mediative nature.
Making, the border between pain and pleasure
'To make' differs fro labor or toil. It does not include the component of tolerated sufffering. 'To make' may take effort. Being tired can be a component of the satisfactioin gotten from 'making'.
To not make
What is the concequence for human conduct if making thing oneself becomes redundent? By which compensating conduct is it replaced? Boredom ensues most probably in a temporary situation of not willing, being able or being allowed 'to make'. Everybody has experienced compensating behaviour for boredom: negative interaction with others, irritation, aggressiveness, a blacker outlook on one's surrounding and future. When not willing, not being able, not being allowed 'to make' becomes a structural part of someone's life, the same reactions play a role, though the reactions are more durable ones. In an attempt to incorporate the structural change in restrictions, a person will adapt his or her behavioural pattern, to a point of considering the changing behaviour a reason for the change in structure. This situation is often experienced in groups, and thus the compensation will also appear in the social structure of the group. This all could result in apathy or radicalization. Those living on the prosperous side of the Western welfare divide will recognise the situation in (black) ghetto's and no-go area's in this. For these people it will be harder to compare between their own situation and a culture where 'making' is of central importance. Images of “poverty” and “long ago” abound, eventually leading to the greatful realization that the past and poverty are no longer with us. Any reference to the positive experiences that result from a 'making' culture are lost in the process of becoming a consumer society.
Making and Durability
The research that Demotech has done towards the use of “design space” has benefitted the prevention of poverty and environmental damage. Economics are central in this research. In hundreds of Demotech's designs it is shown how an alternative method of manufacture (or making) can lead to the reduction of environmental pressures necessary for sustainability. This reduction is best achieved by making better use of a community's local potential for making resources. 'Making' consequently occupies a central role in such a community. This “new craftsmanship” owes its superiority over industrial production to a better use of knowledge. Not only does this method make better use of the existing knowledge base, it allocates the knowledge of a particular handicraft more effectively. The shape societal order will take in a sustaibable 'making' society differs markedly from our own. When weighing the differences between a 'making' society and a consumer society one has to consider both the act of making and the shape that society will necessarily have to take to allow that. For many this evokes a very vague and (for now) unattractive image. It is important to remember that when making this comparison, the economy has always stood central.
Making and Wellbeing
What role does wellbeing play in the forming of a sustaibable society? To answer this question one might explore what 'making' means for wellbeing. What is happiness associated with? What are happy moments associated with? What is a child who finds fulfillment in a game, actually doing? Of course 'making' is not the only factor affecting a happy and sustainable society. It would be an enrichment to our understanding to look at what the effect on our wellbeing would be of changing the way in which we produce our resources. Such research is possible taking into account Demotech's guiding principles: that sustainability follows from supplying knowledge in favor of 'making' locally while sustaining or improving the level of wellbeing. Granted that it is a positive one, the lesson learned can be added to the governing policy as a societal value which should eventually realise a change to more sustainability. From Demotech's perspective it seems that 'making' should be reintroduced into peoples' lives, giving it an added economic value by making handicraft knowledge as openly available as it once was.
Tijen, R. van. (5 october, 1998). Dieren.
footnotes Fletcher
