I know of him because we have a good ... song & guitar-man ? ... here in Norway who did a good job of translating and recording some of his songs in the mid-nineties.
I feel I should add, this being a time of war in Europe, that although I despise Putins aggression against Ukraina and the inhumane way the russians wage war! I do not want to boycott Russian culture or people. We will have to live together when the war is over. Norway borders Russia up north. But it will not be easy.
Lots of people use the term "handmade" to infer "well made" because all too often their experience of "machine made" is somehow connected to low grade stuff.
I prefer the term "well made" but even then terms are pointless. Show me the goods and let me decide if what I'm being charged feels worth it. If it is, then I don't give a flying hoot how it was made.
Side story: I was in New York in 2019 and I was staying in Brooklyn. I noticed a really weird trend of "hipster" workshops where two things stood out. One, the craftsman was working in the window like they were the display and two, the price. I called them hipster pods. Shoe makers, cabinet makers, all kinds of niche 'hipsterisms'. They all used handtools. Draw your own conclusions :)
This Artisanal-Industrial axis is a good model. It’s sad though that accurate terms get co-opted as some poser status agenda almost as soon as they appear, making it even harder to describe regular weirdos that make stuff. Like explaining your sanity inevitably only gives the appearance of insanity.
I love the way you are able so simply (and I use that word as a compliment) to paint a Big Picture about the world by reference to and analogy with your specialism. This statement: "Our modern, material world is not built on a laptop in Starbucks, but in factories in Asia, by very clever and crafty people who have the skills and the grit most of us have become too decadent for." is just sublime. I shall, if I may, re-use it.
And thanks for complimenting my writing; I value that, coming from a man like you.
Words can pour out of me both in Norw. and Eng. but when I write in English I'm continuously beset by doubt ... is that the right word? ... do people say that? It's a struggle to make my English sentences flow nicely, let alone sing. But sometimes ... sometimes I manage to conjure up a good one :-)
I agree with the woodwork-and-let-woodwork sentiment. And finding multiple sources of learning. And then there is Vysotsky! So good to hear his voice.
You know Vysotsky!?
I know of him because we have a good ... song & guitar-man ? ... here in Norway who did a good job of translating and recording some of his songs in the mid-nineties.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W16VoeK_ssw
He (they both!) have a certain way ...
I feel I should add, this being a time of war in Europe, that although I despise Putins aggression against Ukraina and the inhumane way the russians wage war! I do not want to boycott Russian culture or people. We will have to live together when the war is over. Norway borders Russia up north. But it will not be easy.
Слава Україні!
I lived in Russia for some time and gained a great appreciation for Vysotsky, as well as many other cultural figures!
You're a man of many parts!
Lots of people use the term "handmade" to infer "well made" because all too often their experience of "machine made" is somehow connected to low grade stuff.
I prefer the term "well made" but even then terms are pointless. Show me the goods and let me decide if what I'm being charged feels worth it. If it is, then I don't give a flying hoot how it was made.
Side story: I was in New York in 2019 and I was staying in Brooklyn. I noticed a really weird trend of "hipster" workshops where two things stood out. One, the craftsman was working in the window like they were the display and two, the price. I called them hipster pods. Shoe makers, cabinet makers, all kinds of niche 'hipsterisms'. They all used handtools. Draw your own conclusions :)
Good points, both.
'Hipster pods' -- heh! I know ... I've even seen a few of them here in old Oslo.
To me, they seem to scream: Look at me !!! Do you love me now, Daddy ?! DO YOU LOVE ME NOW ???
To which Daddy says "no son, and I never did."
Then the hipster bottles their tears and sells it on Etsy as a superfood for vegans.
Aaaaaaaah!Hahahaahah!!
Exactly!
This Artisanal-Industrial axis is a good model. It’s sad though that accurate terms get co-opted as some poser status agenda almost as soon as they appear, making it even harder to describe regular weirdos that make stuff. Like explaining your sanity inevitably only gives the appearance of insanity.
"... regular weirdos that make stuff."
It has a certain ring to it ...
I love the way you are able so simply (and I use that word as a compliment) to paint a Big Picture about the world by reference to and analogy with your specialism. This statement: "Our modern, material world is not built on a laptop in Starbucks, but in factories in Asia, by very clever and crafty people who have the skills and the grit most of us have become too decadent for." is just sublime. I shall, if I may, re-use it.
Re-use away!
And thanks for complimenting my writing; I value that, coming from a man like you.
Words can pour out of me both in Norw. and Eng. but when I write in English I'm continuously beset by doubt ... is that the right word? ... do people say that? It's a struggle to make my English sentences flow nicely, let alone sing. But sometimes ... sometimes I manage to conjure up a good one :-)
Hard-headed pragmatist if I were to take a shot :).