📘 Part 3: Handicrafts

This episode's vocabulary

Carpentry (noun) - the skill or work of making and repairing wooden objects.

Amateur (noun) - someone who does not have much skill in what they do.

Fair (noun) - a large public event where goods are bought and sold, usually from tables that have been specially arranged for the event, and where there is often entertainment.

Fascinated (adj.) - extremely interested.

Dexterous (adj.) - having the ability to perform a difficult action quickly and skillfully with the hands.

Fiddly (adj.) - difficult to do because the parts involved are small.

Safety-conscious (adj.) - conscious of being safe and preventing danger.

Obscure (adj.) - not known to many people.

Deliberately (adverb) - intentionally.

Impenetrable (adj.) - impossible to see through or go through.

Incentive (noun) - something that encourages a person to do something.

Drudgery (noun) - hard boring work.

-

Questions and Answers

M: So, let's talk about handicrafts and art. What handicrafts are popular in your country.

R: Oh god, it's probably easier to say what isn't popular, to be honest. People do woodwork, metalwork, other things like that. Oh, carpentry. Although that's kind of like woodwork, isn't it? Anyway, um, you, you can really do whatever you please. Although I would prefer something made by a professional over an amateur.

M: Do people in your country send handicrafts as gift?

R: Oh, I think they used to more often than they do now. Unless it's something they bought at a fair as opposed to something they made themselves. It's quite common for schoolchildren to make something for their parents, though. Like I talked about my clock.

M: What do young people think of traditional handicrafts?

R: Well, very young people are probably fascinated by it. But I can imagine the older ones find the technical side a little dull and unengaging, since it requires like a lot of work before you can produce something you're proud of. And electronic media pretty much gives you instant gratification. So you're, they're more likely to prefer that, I guess.

M: What are the benefits of making handicrafts?

R: Well, you definitely become more dexterous, especially if it's something fiddly, like making mechanical toys. And you're working knowledge of machine tools will be above average as well. More broadly, you will be more safety-conscious. So these things can take your fingers off, like the precision saw I talked about?

M: Is it a good idea for children to make things by hand?

R: Well, it's good for developing dexterity and creativity, certainly, but especially in this day and age when we have things like 3d printers that might not be as essential as it used to be.

M: What are the benefits of traditional products to locals?

R: I think it keeps money circulating in the local economy, doesn't it? And that's good for maintaining and developing the industry there. Might be closely connected to local customs too. For example, in Haiti, they make skull masks. They're closely tied to Voodooism. So buying them keeps that part of the culture alive. And that's important, if it's something people value,

M: Do you think the government should help in the promotion of traditional products?

R: If it makes up a significant part of the culture in the economy it's definitely a good idea. After all, that is like, ideally, the purpose of the government, which is to protect the culture of the people that serves as well as the people themselves. Otherwise, what's the point?

M: Why do some people think it's difficult to understand art?

R: Well, some art is quite abstract or obscure in relation to the person experiencing it. Like, for example, if we, if you know little about Voodoo culture, then you might not be able to relate to the sight of so many skulls and spiritual displays. And other times art is almost deliberately impenetrable due to the designs of the artist. And that can cause some frustration too.

M: What can we do to make young people pay more attention to traditional art?

R: Well, that depends on how young they are, like, school children can enjoy trips to museums and sort of small projects. Teenagers could be encouraged to go by incentives to engage with their culture more. I think some English councils experimented with paying people to go to certain sites. Young adults just need to have their awareness raised that something is there, and then natural curiosity can just take its course.

M: Do you think it's important to cultivate an appreciation of art in children?

R: Well, it might be easier to raise awareness that there are different ways to interact with an experienced art. And just because they don't like it doesn't mean something is wrong with them. Some connection to art is important though. Life isn't about work and other kinds of drudgery. There's sort of beauty in the connection to it to be had as well.

M: Do you think art should be included in school curriculum?

R: Well, definitely, like you need artists. And school children should have the opportunity to see if this is something they can contribute to the world, or at least to enjoy it. It doesn't have to be about being economically productive. Maybe they'd like to take it up as a hobby and school can be a kind of trial or testing ground for this.

M: Do you think that in the future, people would appreciate traditional art and handicrafts more? Or like we'll just care about iPhones and technology?

R: No, I think there will always be a place for things. It's like, it's like everything else like radio, television replaced radio. But there's still people that listen to radio stations, for example, I don't see why the same doesn't apply to art.

M: So Russian dolls will be popular forever?

R: Well, maybe not forever. But as long as people are around to enjoy Russian culture, why not?

M: Rory, thank you very much for your answers.

-