Aug 15, 2011

I am not a craftivist

I just finished watching a documentary which aired on Australian television last night entitled 'Making it Handmade!"  This Doco was made in Melbourne in 2010 and apparently was about:  "A documentary following four women from Melbourne who've taken a seemingly staid passtime of craft and injected it with a youthful, modern aesthetic."

Now this is interesting I thought!  Following on from a piece about blogging mum's on the 6.30pm show the other night us handmadey, mumsy, bloggy types are really getting out there!

The part that puzzled me was the warnings attached to the show:  "coarse language, sexual reference, sex scenes".  WTF?  I'm laughing to myself thinking they've categorised it incorrectly!  Um no.  The first part was great, lovely little vox pops from Pip of Meet Me at Mikes fame.  Talking about handmade stuff and how it's a love of learning and passing on skills and just generally making stuff and especially connecting with other likeminded souls.  Then some wise words from another vox popper about how making a living from handmade is very difficult and how you actually get bored making the same thing over and over or virtually kill yourself and have to outsource - almost defeating the purpose.  

But then it got weird.  They started talking about activisim and feminism and political stuff and how crafting is intrisicly linked to being an activist and against the grain.  Sure a few of the crafty types I associate with are a bit left (or is it right?) of centre, but by no means are they activists.  I grow veges, I care about the environment, my husband rides a bike.  But I still own a car, I love shopping and I have a huge cabinet full of fabric and craft supplies.  And apparently, according to this doco anyway, this makes me consumerist scum - even tho I know how to knit, crochet, sew and many other crafty things.  And then there was the woman with the 'c' word.  Which I won't repeat here because I don't personally like the word and a lot of readers would find it offensive.  I just thought it was dumb and deliberately provocative for basically no reason.

So there's my tuppence worth.  The first 20 minutes were pretty good, the rest, well I'll never get that 40 minutes of my life back again.  And now I'm angry.

Being crafty is lovely and wholesome and beautiful and giving gifts that you have made or if you can't make them, purchasing them from someone who has lovingly made them, is wonderful.  That's it.  They were the dying arts and we are bringing them back and making them more accepted as a passtime rather than a necessity or a 'granny thing'.  Isn't that enough? Why do I have to burn my bra or deface public property or do pornographic embroidery???? 


7 comments:

Frances said...

Oh My Goodness, I thought it was only me, I watched and enjoyed the first 20 mins or so then was amazed at how much food was being consumed rather than craft participation, then when we started to cross stitch the fence and design patterns cause the dragons and fairies are just no go I gave it away and didn't even finish watching. I enjoy crafting, care about the environment as well, maybe we are just average Bree and you know what there is certainly nothing wrong with us!!!

Chookyblue...... said...

I missed the show wished I had caught it.....didn't know it was on......heard a little about it last year.......they are the inner city yuppy type who think that they have revamped everything ("saved it").....
craft and politics don't mix for me.......
....us normal people have just found time to craft (on and off over many many years) and can enjoy it like any other activity..........i'm normal like you.........

Doreen said...

I must have fallen alseep (notunusual for me in front of the TV when I don't have any knitting to do)...cause I didn't see the last 40 mins. or so...I thought it was just a half hour show. Sounds like I didn't miss anything...or maybe I did...

Unknown said...

for those who missed it or are internationals, it is thought provoking to say the least ( I was up half the night thinking about it an fuming)

Making It Handmade
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/812234

There are 12 days remaining before this video expires.

Anonymous said...

Have to say by the sound of it I am glad I missed it.

circle retreat quilter said...

I am with Christine. I really am glad i missed. and it sounds like it royally upset you. relax breathe and go crochet.

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

Staid?! Well that is their opinion. I missed it too and from your reaction that may be a good thing!

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