8 - Cuteness in Craft

What comes first on your mind when you hear the word, 'cute'? I believe there's always this idea of youthfulness and relation to a child when we talk about cuteness. It could also be thought of as something small, petite, or tiny, if we mean size. There are many ways for cuteness to be used. Just like with our actions; with the way we talk, the way we dress up, the things we use, our preferences, name it. How about using it in art? Promotions and products? I believe that cuteness, as general as it sounds, can be encountered everywhere. Let’s go further into what cuteness can take us as this article that I found states and make us wonder, “Is Cuteness Bad For Craft?”

“Don’t Put A Bird On It: Saving ‘Craft fromCuteness’, A New Yorker article written by Alexandra Lange. Not that cuteness is a bad thing, but as author Chappell Ellison states in the article, quoting Lange, “This is culture, it is not a hobby, and it deserves serious analysis, criticism and thought.” At some point there you would agree that craft is not just a hobby, there are considerations since we are talking about art and design. Although craft could be an interest or a hobby to a person, it’s still not as simple as changing your wardrobe or whatever style you have. Ellison’s point is that “craft is backing itself into a corner of cuteness.” I realized that this is agreeable, seeing craft materials in stores. You could almost put them in a category of cute objects, instead of art and design materials section.

Cuteness is not a bad thing. It’s just that, anything that is too much is not good. As an artist, I am affected by this since there is now a stereotype in craft. We just have to consider the fact that cuteness is not always everybody’s preference. We do know that this is trendy, it has been used widely on TV and in poster ads, but we don’t limit ourselves there. Just like what Ellison said, “Craft can be cute, but it can mean so much more.”