“While the shift might be from the corporate to the individual (supported, mind, by a different set of companies selling a different set of things), it mostly re-inscribes familiar values, in slightly different form: that artifacts are important, and people are not.”
Chachra, Debbie. “Why I Am Not a Maker.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 23 Jan. 2015, www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/01/why-i-am-not-a-maker/384767/.
When reading through the article “Why I Am Not a Maker”, I was struck by the complexity of the “maker” industry. The author acknowledges that although “making” tends to be an individual field, it does not uplift society’s humanity, it dismisses it. As a person interested in computer science, I feel that this field can be a force for positive change catering to humans. However, I am aware of the culture of this field, one that sells people rather than preserving them. I think that it is very difficult to be a “maker” with people in mind. Many of the technologies today “seem” to be for the benefit of people, yet are using people as currency, selling their personal information, and analyzing their interests for profit. Although individuals thought up Facebook, Twitter, etc. hoping to create a space for positive human interaction, as these platforms grew they “re-inscribed” the value of the material: photos, words, and advertisements. This undermined the people behind these artifacts, whose mental health and psyche were being attacked by algorithms. However, I believe that there are makers out there who are creating digital platforms or models that have the interest of people in mind, whether that be tackling climate change through tech or creating a platform for underrepresented voices.
When I think of digital humanities, I imagine models of decimated buildings and temples that reveal what life used to look like. This image feeds into the idea that makers value artifacts rather than human experience. While the author is correct in that most “makers” preserve artifacts rather than humans, these artifacts preserve the story of humanity. Artifacts are not merely just symbols, they are stories of great feats and tragedies, reflections of past thought, and proof of civilization.
In conclusion, this article highlights that as a “maker,” it is important to not only preserve artifacts but also the stories and people behind those artifacts. The maker industry needs to shift away from a profit-based system to a “caretaking” system with people in mind.
