Jackson and Terkel

Part One:

Jackson believes that craft has a place outside of work, but at the same time, that it's almost an extension of the regular, paid, work that people do. When flow is described, the article tells us that flow is found in work three times more than in leisure time. Productive leisure also describes the connection between work and leisure too. Jackson seems to be most interested in what drives people to craft. These people don't get much profit from their work, especially when compared with the hours they put in. He gives an example of Glynn, the man who makes kayaks in his spare time. Jackson wants to pinpoint what intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, if any, drive the maker. I believe that his intended audience is probably other people that craft. Glynn's story, which is at the beginning of the article, is meant to bring in the type of audience that would be interested in a story like his.

Terkel is a radio host who also writes books. He talked to people in various jobs, from airplane stewardesses to salesmen to doctors. Terkel seemed to be interested in the rewards or more specifically, lack of reward, in the workplace. Right off the bat he describes work as negative. "This book, being about work, is, by its very nature, about violence- to the spirit as well as to the body" (xi). He definitely believes that craft is in work. It's the reasons that keep someone going at work beyond the paycheck. Terkel's audience can be just about anyone. He covers such a wide range of social class (in reference to jobs) that just about anyone can find something to relate to in his article.

Part Two

In these readings the industrial revolution and machines were talked about. This obviously corresponds with the Marx and Morris articles. In Terkel's article he talked to line workers and said something about all line jobs being kind of the same. Also, he talks about the automobile being "evil". The automobile and the construction of one goes back to machines, factory jobs, and mass production. Marx and Morris describe these things as evil and ugly. Both Hauser and Atwill were kind of introductory texts. They describe craft, rhetoric, and where they came from. The information in Hauser and Atwill are pieces that will be found in all the readings that I think we will read in this course. Without their pieces I wouldn't have a more broad view of craft that I have now. Sennett writes about people's experiences at work which directly related to both Terkel and Jackson. Like stated above, I believe that they think craft and work relate. Salomon and slojd also connects work and craft. Because slojd is used as a sort of education, that can be translated as work for a lot of students.

Part Three

I am interested in how work and leisure/craft relate to each other. I think it relates to almost all people, including me. If I can find a connection between work and leisure/craft, my future work life will be much more enjoyable. I want to be a teacher one day and although right now, I fully enjoy going to schools and helping out teachers, I think some days all people are burnt out. I'm interested in finding a way or a craft that will help me get through the days that I feel burnt out. Also, the value of craft is interesting. When everything's mass produced like it is today, crafting is something special. Learning more about that would be awesome. In the future I'd like to read and talk about how craft relates to technology. Especially the internet and entertainment in general.