"I mean by this that we humans are creators, we must must must keep making! I believe this to be our procreative nature, our fulfillment in creative processes and production."
I believe this too!
I think that both the crafts of the artisan tradesmen and these mass goods, seemingly for foreign consumption are "Peruvian." Of course, I much prefer the goods of the former--I bought a beautiful mat for my mom from the Amaru community.
Maybe people whose (parents, grandparents, previous generations of family) may have been artisan craftspeople (for immediate lack of a better term) are now involved in the production of these mass goods. Or maybe not! It is also possible there are people who are involved in the creation of both kinds of items. I wonder how they would conceive of the differences between the things they make.
"Possibly, items are made to prioritise the consumer’s compatibility over any other standard of necessity, a standard reminiscent to the criteria of a past trademan’s collection." This blog post raises much needed questions, thank you Emma for leaving us with these questions.What do we consume when we buy a poncho in Peru? How is it different from ordering it on Amazon with all the "authenticity" certifications, clearly stated in English? Is it less "authentic" to pay for a "falsely Peruvian" poncho on the street in Cusco and buy it in soles instead of dollars, after haggling between Quechua and Spanish like a good local? Don't know. What's more, returning to your blog, I don't even know if the excessive and exaggerated abundance is balanced by the "real" consumption of Peruvian products by visitors. Could it be that this excessive accumulation is another form of spectacle, something that should be seen as a tourist attraction? (I know the context is different, but I can't stop thinking about the open shelves at the Larco Museum).
I love going to markets like the Cusco market but when I take a step back I am mind blown by the sheer amount of stuff that there is. It makes me wonder just how much I need to be buying things, even the presents, and if I should be avoiding accumulating material possessions. But there is also the side of many of the things being sold are made by local artists and crafts people. My shopping is supporting their work and their livelihood.
Were there any “genuine fakes”?
"I mean by this that we humans are creators, we must must must keep making! I believe this to be our procreative nature, our fulfillment in creative processes and production."
I believe this too!
I think that both the crafts of the artisan tradesmen and these mass goods, seemingly for foreign consumption are "Peruvian." Of course, I much prefer the goods of the former--I bought a beautiful mat for my mom from the Amaru community.
Maybe people whose (parents, grandparents, previous generations of family) may have been artisan craftspeople (for immediate lack of a better term) are now involved in the production of these mass goods. Or maybe not! It is also possible there are people who are involved in the creation of both kinds of items. I wonder how they would conceive of the differences between the things they make.
"Possibly, items are made to prioritise the consumer’s compatibility over any other standard of necessity, a standard reminiscent to the criteria of a past trademan’s collection." This blog post raises much needed questions, thank you Emma for leaving us with these questions.What do we consume when we buy a poncho in Peru? How is it different from ordering it on Amazon with all the "authenticity" certifications, clearly stated in English? Is it less "authentic" to pay for a "falsely Peruvian" poncho on the street in Cusco and buy it in soles instead of dollars, after haggling between Quechua and Spanish like a good local? Don't know. What's more, returning to your blog, I don't even know if the excessive and exaggerated abundance is balanced by the "real" consumption of Peruvian products by visitors. Could it be that this excessive accumulation is another form of spectacle, something that should be seen as a tourist attraction? (I know the context is different, but I can't stop thinking about the open shelves at the Larco Museum).
Hi Emma,
I love going to markets like the Cusco market but when I take a step back I am mind blown by the sheer amount of stuff that there is. It makes me wonder just how much I need to be buying things, even the presents, and if I should be avoiding accumulating material possessions. But there is also the side of many of the things being sold are made by local artists and crafts people. My shopping is supporting their work and their livelihood.