Faculty Publications

Nothing Says Love Like a Skull and Crossbones Tea Cozy: Crafting Contemporary Subversive Handcrafts

Document Type

Article

Keywords

craft-fiti; crafting circle; craftivism; cross stitch; DIY; grandma; handcrafters; subversive craft

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Craft Research

Volume

4

Issue

1

First Page

73

Last Page

86

Abstract

Subversive crafters portray feminist messaging within stereotypically non-feminist (e.g. domestic) items. They express irreverence, politics and a culture of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) practices embodying irony, sarcasm, parody and humour. Drawing on 44 North American interviews and participant observations, we explore how subversive crafts and crafters exist outside of the traditional gendered domestic context. We discuss how socio-political and sociocultural visual imagery in subversive crafts plays a role in defining contemporary handcraft culture.

Department

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Original Publication Date

2-1-2013

DOI of published version

10.1386/crre.4.1.73_1

Link to Full Text

Comments?

Share

COinS