The Reconstruction Of Traditional Handicrafts In Modern Times

The folk handicrafts which take root in the social grass roots structure the mass culture details with solid foundation. They have the reaching impacts on other culture and arts, and are the important income source and supplement of the local people. Under the strike of modernization, the Chinese traditional folk handicrafts face challenges. How to make the traditional crafts alive in modern times and maintain their economic market, then inherit and develop their crafts intangible cultural heritage is a big problem that lies ahead.By the survey on Yongchun painting basket traditional handicraft which has 500 years history in south Fujian, this thesis uses Actor-Network-Theory as an analysis tool to study the change process of Yongchun painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks. By the survey on the specific action figures and affairs, it also treats the folk handicraft as an actor that takes part in the equal negotiation, and analyzes the construction process of the folk handicraft on the painting basket industry until the market period from a long historic dynamic angle. Then it explains the reason for the formation of a new network or union (society), and reflects the change of the painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks. That is to show the formation, dissolution and reconstruction of its co-constructing networks entity, then to reveal the succession and development tendency of the traditional folk handicraft in modern times.This thesis tries to divide the change process of Yongchun painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks into three stages. The first stage is in the traditional society period of the origin, development and decline of the painting basket handicraft industry, and the planned economy period of the recover, development and solid formation of the painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks. The second stage which is the change, dilemma and opportunity that the painting basket handicraft industry faced before the reconstruction of the painting basket production organization or the foundation of the painting basket company, is after the opening reform when entering the market economy period, and reflects the dissolution of the painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks on this stage. The third stage is in the market economy period when there were a series of relative persons'participating activities deployed surrounding the foundation of the painting basket company and the protection and development of the painting basket handicraft, and it reflects the reconstruction of the painting basket co-constructing network or the formation of the new co-constructing network. This thesis especially surveys during the market economy period that is the last two stages of the change of the painting basket co-constructing networks, the painting basket handicraft changing instances influenced by the modernization and its specific reasons, and in order to meet the needs of environment, and continue and develop the traditional handicraft in modern market economy, how the local villagers and relative persons take the actions, then unite to inherit and develop this folk handicraft together, which means the reconstruction of tradition in modern times.On the first stage of the change process of the painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks, or on the stage that the constructing network began to shape, the actors were rational and their participation expanded from because of economic ration in the beginning to political ration and economic ration. On this stage, the power relationship in the network evolved from society and society to state and society. Society and society embodied the engaging and engaged relationship, and state and society embodied the controlling and controlled relationship. On the second stage of the change process of the painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks, or on the stage that the co-constructing network dissolved, the actors dropped out the collective participation one after another, and the original power relationship in the network wore off, then the development of the painting basket handicraft faced the dilemma but had the opportunity. On the third stage of the change process of the painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks or on the stage that the co-constructing network reconstructed or the new co-constructing network formed, the actors'participation expanded to because of political ration, economic ration and cultural ration. On this stage, the governmental sections and social members all took part in this action, and each participator's action was rational. The actors pursued maximum profits from their own angles, used equal negotiation to finally reach each goal and the uniform goal, and then to make the painting basket company in Longshui village become the"obligatory passage point"that the actors should get across if they wanted to achieve each goal, which formed the new power relationship and its regulations. It was seen that after the opening reform and with the development of market economy, part of the state power was divorced from society, which made the social members have some freedom and be able to form the relationship of cooperation and collusion with the state. Finally a new traditional handicraft co-constructing network, union or society (entity) that contains the heterogeneous actors was formed, and it also reflected the reconstruction of society.By the survey of the change of Yongchun painting basket handicraft co-constructing networks in south Fujian, we found that the change of traditional handicrafts was the participation of multipartite collaboration, and a process of collective co-construction. It should be brought into the network union or in the society for consideration. They not only belonged to the handicraftsmen, but also belonged to the society, and were constructed in the society. In the process of protecting and developing the painting basket traditional handicraft, the local people have to use reasonable strategies to promote each participator to get their individual interest, so as to hold on to their hearts, finally forming a steady power relationship network, to make each participator's behavior restricted effectively, and construct the co-constructing network of traditional handicrafts together. At present there are many places still in the agricultural era in China, and the abundant heritage of traditional handicrafts is mostly distributed in these areas. For them their primary duty is to get rid of poverty and live a modern life. Therefore that we carry out the protection work of traditional handicrafts now should in no way blindly copy the experience of the foreign countries that have entered the era of post-industry civilization. We should carry out alteration and innovation based on tradition and let ourselves walk up a special road that leads to modernization from our own national conditions. The protection and development of traditional handicrafts need to make the co-constructing network big and strong, and be integrated into the market course system based on the reasonable using and the participation of more members and units. Besides creating a favorable external environment for the development of traditional handicrafts, we should truly depend on the traditional handicraftsmen's self-dependence and realize the market value of the products, to enhance the income of the traditional handicraftsmen, meet all the participators'interests need, and strengthen the cohesion and constraint force of the co-constructing network.