Art, Craft, Science
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this anthropology course on how people learn, practice, and evaluate traditional and contemporary craft techniques. Social science theories of design, embodiment, apprenticeship, skill, labor, expertise, and tacit knowledge frame discussions of what separates and connects art, craft, and science. Case studies span textiles, glassblowing, quilting, cheese making, industrial design, home cooking, factory and laboratory work, and CAD-CAM systems, drawing on ethnographic and historical research. The course also examines how craft becomes commoditized through market goods, collectible art, and tourism. Materials include readings, in-class demonstrations, and hands-on craft projects that let students test theories of skill and embodiment directly. As with other MIT OpenCourseWare offerings, the syllabus, readings, and assignments are freely available online, with no certificate or fee attached.