Craftonomics: Homo Aestheticus, Homo Economicus, and Poiesis

This empirical and discursive qualitative research project explores the complexities of engaging making practices with respect to well-being, economics, and education. The research engages narrative inquiry as a means of understanding the complex social narratives taken up by six avid makers engaging their practices in Appalachian culture. This research is guided by a biopsychosocial constructivist epistemology in which meaning is situated in social and material contexts and aims to bring the complex social dynamics of making culture more into focus via the justification narratives makers use to engage making practices. The data revealed well-being narratives including concepts of self care, essence, appreciation, addiction, and the artist and economic narratives including an exploration of Homo economicus, maker time, gifting, and skill acquisition. In addition, this research develops and explores the expressive arts theory that making practices are an extension of human well-being and contributes to a theoretical understanding of human art and craft production practice. This study also contributes a critical theory analysis of the interaction between human production practices and the economic metanarrative. Further, this study explores the relationship between making practices and education which contributes to a theory of maker-based curriculum development along with a poietic educational aesthetic.