Abstract

Based on ethnographic fieldwork between August 2012 and August 2018, this article explores the influence of artisanal promotion agents on the woven crafts of Chaco, Argentina. The influence of artisanal promotion agents (APAs) is decisive and heterogeneous – they play a significant role in influencing the craftspersons’ decisions about what they make for sale. Built on presumptions of what is inherent to the culture of the Chaco weavers, APAs make suggestions as to the colors, materials and shapes adopted by the craftspeople. In the case of colour, the influences of the agents go unnoticed, but in regards to the shape, their advice has been significant. This article explores how APAs communicate their suggestions to craftspeople through images and prototypes, simultaneously managing the capacity to diversify production and maximise commercial impact. Those who manage these record/communication systems have great influence on the production and commercialization of crafts.

摘要

本文基于 2012 年 8 月至 2018 年 8 月的民族志田野调查，探讨了手工促进剂对阿根廷查科编织工艺的影响。手工促销代理 (APA) 的影响是决定性的和异质的——它们在影响手工艺人关于他们出售什么产品的决定方面发挥着重要作用。基于对查科织布工文化固有的假设，APA 就工匠采用的颜色、材料和形状提出建议。在颜色的情况下，代理人的影响被忽视了，但在形状方面，他们的建议很重要。本文探讨了 APA 如何通过图像和原型向工匠传达他们的建议，同时管理使生产多样化和最大化商业影响的能力。管理这些记录/通信系统的人对工艺品的生产和商业化有很大的影响。