Lee Love on mon 6 oct 03
Was thinking about it today, and I think part of the problem we are
having, is related to various use of terminology. Ron doesn't seem to
see a difference between technology and craft. I think they are two
different things.
When I look at potter here and recall the work of potters back home,
I see a basic division of three different categories: Craftskill --
Technology -- Creativity/Innovation..
Talking to my wife Jean about these divisions at lunch, comparied to
"back home" , (back home being Minnesota,) when I mentioned the
comparision of craft skills, Jean said, "The craft level here is much
higher. No comparision." I said I agreed. I took over the next
category, technology: The strength of the ceramic technology is somewhat
different. Of course, I am only comparing what I know, so we are speaking
about the MidWest and Mashiko, but the main difference is that the
technology back home is, to a large degree, industrially based, while the
technology here is based in traditional technology, that goes back thousands
of years. Both cultures are strong in technology, but the approaches are
different. This is what I've tried to point out in the past.
Now, in the area of Creativity and Innovation, the area I have been
primarily supporting in the discussion here, I believe that we have the edge
back home. Our education is geared toward problem solving and innovation.
This helps with creativity. For example, out of a workshop of 8 people, I
was often the problem solver. In the traditional way of learning here
that I observed in the Shokunin, they usually solved problems by comparing
them to their experience. If they had the problem in the past, they would
recall how it was solved in the past. Sometimes problems were not easily
figured out with new equipment, because the problem had never happened
before. Myself, being trained in the Western scientific way of problem
solving, would solve problems by deduction. That, along with my Gerber
Multi-pliers on my belt, made me a general handiman around the workshop.
I think there is creative strength in the Studio Arts and
workshop systems back home. If we lack in craftskill, we make up for it in
creativity and innovation.
I'm speaking in generalizations because there are always exceptions
to the rules. And things are changing very quickly here. Modern
technology is taking over and much of the old craft knowledge is quickly
disappearing. If we are not careful, before long, every place in the
world is going to be just like every place else.
Lee In Mashiko, Japan
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