We Discuss #7: Made by Us for Us
We Discuss is back! For the first meeting of 2014, which is exactly one week away, we would like to invite you to talk about things that are made by us, for us. At what point do we feel the urge to abandon everything that is readily available to us for the sake of exploring our creativity? There are, of course, many reasons as to why we’d rather make our own things instead of buying them; financial, political, ideological, etc. But whatever the reason may be, “independence” – whether it is an individual or collective independence – is an important keyword. In this discussion, let’s reflect on the possible practical and/or social significance of the “do it yourself” movement. Share your thoughts and personal experience! - What does it mean to “do it yourself” – to make things from scratch or to merely assemble things? - While the DIY mindset encourages independence, we cannot ignore the importance of the that allow us to make things. The role of technology is very important. - Under what conditions do you think the DIY movement would thrive? Do you think it can develop well in Jakarta? - Increased effort = increased value? - Making things by yourself means that you have plenty of room for innovation, but it also means that you are challenging the accepted standards. What are advantages and disadvantages to work according to your own needs and standards? (Alternative education is an especially relevant topic, but it is by now means limited to it. Food production, music, literature, and other art forms are also included.) - Creating vs. re-creating: Doesn’t creativity have a huge role in the art of reparation, in “creating” something new out of a broken object? By repairing things, we are putting old things to good use, and it also gives us the perfect chance to experiment. - Having said that, how do we actually define “creativity” in this technological era? Computers allow us to engage in various creative tasks – from writing, making music, to drawing – but would this kind of creativity count as a part of the DIY movement? - Chris Anderson, the former editor-in-chief of , noted that that “The digital natives are starting to hunger for life beyond the screen.” How true is his comment? Despite the time we invest in our digital activities, do we still want to create something that exists in the physical world? - How does the DIY mindset and movement affect our sense of identity? - Do you think that groups and communities are important to keep the DIY culture alive? - If we consider the DIY culture in terms of collectives, is it a that seeks an alternative way of living or a that intentionally opposes the norm? Tuesday, January 28, 2014 7—9 pm Kinokuniya Plaza Senayan (near the language section) Jl. Asia Afrika 8 Sogo Plaza Senayan Lt. 5 Jakarta 10270 Please look out for more #WeDiscuss updates on our Facebook page and Twitter account! If you’d like to share your opinions, or if you have friends who’d like to share theirs, sign up via e-mail with the subject title “We Discuss” at ! If you have comments or questions, tweet us .
