1. Explain the debate between John Ruskin and futurist Marinetti. Which one can you relate to and why?
The debate between Ruskin and Marinetti is one that will never be settled. Ruskin is best known for his contributions to the arts and crafts movement of design, highlighting the importance of and appreciation for imperfection. Marinette on the other hand, a futurist, believes the industrial object (a product of mass production) is more important than the individuality of something hand crafted. Both points are completely valid. I don’t side with either philosophy but can offer defenses and criticisms of both.
Ruskin’s ideals blend perfectly in a society that honors and sometimes worships strong accounts of individuality. The arts and crafts movement also fosters a greater sense of creativity. On the flip side, hand crafted products cost more, take longer to produce and are sometimes irreplaceable. The amounts of resources (time and money) devoted to a single output are so great that the practice can only be considered viable for certain goods (jewelry, artwork, etc.). Attempting to create large-scale products (cars, homes, etc) would be far too impractical to meet collective societal needs.
Custom crafted jewelry by a friend (below)
[http://www.etsy.com/shop/fromthemoon]
A custom designed car (below)
[http://www.fastcoolcars.com/images/wallpaper37/2005-nopi-big.jpg]
Although many argue Marinette’s philosophy is too limiting and the outcome uninspiring, there are certainly advantages to mass production. First, it lowers cost allowing more consumers to afford everyday objects (trash cans, plates, etc). Spending less on many things, may allows for greater expenditures on handcrafted items as well. However, this too is a double-edged sword. Manufactures may not take the appropriate measures to ensure their product is of upmost quality as turning a profit is first and foremost in their mind. Cheap, quickly made products may require sooner replacements, calling for an unnecessary use of raw materials again. Additionally, the designs can sometimes be overly vernacular, uninspiring and lack individualization.
Given my choice I would select John Ruskin’s hand crafted product. It is more important for me that I know where my goods came from, what they represent and that I take care of them. I’m willing to sacrifice quantity and low price for something I know was built to last and built with a heart behind it.
2. Do Danish designers employ futurism in their design for solving everyday problems?
I do think Danish designers employ futurism in their designs. As noticed in many homes, it is very popular to follow current trends in furniture, accessories, etc. However, I find Danish design peculiar in the sense that these massed produced products began along the lines of arts and crafts. For example, the Royal Copenhagen china collection. What began as a very special and unique collection has since become more popular and the products more massed produced. In an attempt to fall between the definition of arts/crafts and futurism, the plates are still hand painted. I believe this collection truly reflects the essence of Danish design.
[http://www.royalcopenhagen.com/Craftmanship.aspx]
No comments:
Post a Comment