Posted by quixotic on 2004-12-20 18:09:33
Post Subject:
lately i'm just not sure what i want to write. or who i want to write for.
i'm really wanting to continue on with knitting/craft research i was doing for my MA, with dealth with issues of feminism, oral tradition, the history of knitting and domesticity.
i'm looking for grants in regards to research/educational funding, but it's making my headspin at the moment..
Posted by John Sutton on 2005-11-23 00:58:20
Post Subject: This is all a bit overwrought, no?
Come on people! "appropriation of the craftivist sentiment?". Please!
Someone posts a men-centric history of knitting on a men's knitting website and women are up in arms?! What the hell is going on?! That history lesson, as I understand it, was a response (some would say over-reaction) to Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch wherein she gives the guys short shrift before launching into a celebration of women's continuing contributions to the craft of knitting. But then it's a feminist book, so who can blame her? That being said, who can blame a men's knitting website for posting what appears to be an accurate summary (that's a key word, summary) of men's on-going contribution to the craft. This isn't about protecting our fragile masculinity or appropriating anything. It's about celebrating men's contribution to the history of knitting.
I find it astounding and a bit disheartening that knitting is losing it's appeal for someone simply because it's becoming more acceptable. That seems to me a childish reaction. And I'm pretty certain it's not the men who are responsible for knitting's new polished appeal; it's the hip young urban women and the Hollywood movie stars and the feminists! Blame Debbie Stoller! She says in Stitch 'n Bitch that she made it her mission to "raise knitting's visibility and value in the culture." Her MISSION. And of course I'm being facetious when I say blame her. It's a brilliant book that has done more to increase the popularity and perceived value of knitting than any other. Hell, probably more than any book or person ever! I say mission accomplished. And to her credit, SHE doesn't shy away from inviting men to the needles! Thank you, Debbie.
I don't believe we (men) have come under fire for knitting (at least I didn't until I found this website). Not once in 13 years of knitting have I had a negative experience, and that includes the first 3 years when I did my knitting on a US Navy aircraft carrier. I am, however, frequently surprised by the number of women who expect that I get ridiculed. I've heard on more than one occassion, "it's great that you are knitting! Don't people make fun of you?" Well, no, they don't. And even if they did, I would continue to knit. And I'm sorry if my knitting feels like appropriation to you or if my masculinity somehow makes knitting okay and therefor limits your ability to enjoy the craft (?), but I promise you that's not why I knit. I'm not trying to rob you of your heritage as a woman or as a "craftivist" and I'm not looking for applause or validation. I don't need it to justify my knitting. I knit because I enjoy the process and the results and, usually, the community.
As far as Dicks with Sticks goes...yeah, I don't like it, either, but that's just because I don't think it's clever (sorry Evan). It makes me think of "jerk". Now Denver Men with Balls...that makes me chuckle. On that note, isn't BUST a reductionist name for a magazine that emphasizes the feminine? And isn't that the point? If you're starting a men's knitting group and you want to attract men, you emphasize the masculinity. When you advertise, you aim at your target audience. I'm also willing to bet that the "bitch" in the Stitch 'n Bitch book title isn't that limited in it's context. At least I hope not, because it was a pretty clever title for a feminist's knitting book when I thought it meant more than just talk.
Finally, delcq started this discussion with an invitation to "discuss" and ends it by yelling troll at a guy who knits because he got a little annoyed by all the negativity aimed at male knitters. Go back and read through these posts. It's REALLY negative and kind of sad. Now, I urge you to find Jean's Crafty Manifesto on this very website and reread it. If you can't bring yourself to reread the whole thing (a shame, because it's pretty good), at the very least find the paragraph where she talks about what being crafty means. She says, "it means always trying to be nice." Troll is a little harsh. It's not at all nice, or crafty.
Posted by quixotic on 2005-01-11 22:24:16
Post Subject:
favorite books of 2004:
Cat's Eye, Margaret Atwood (inspired me to make art again)
Incidents, Roland Barthes (i love this man, esp when he speaks of love)
No Idle Hands: The American Social History of Knitting: Anne McDonald (my nerdy pick of the year!!)
The Culture of Cities, Sharon Zukin (yummy social capital stuff)
The Arcades Project, Walter Benjamin (not all, just snippets!)
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen (re-read it again. so good!)
i've been thinking about starting a lit journal this year, because i always forget what i have and haven't read!
Posted by DanVera on 2005-11-28 17:24:23
Post Subject: The writer writes
Well, I wrote that history on the MenKnitting site.
I read this conversation a few days ago. Didn't really see a reason to write in. I find part of this discussion humorous. I approach that website very much from a place of feminist cultural theory. I believe communities deserve to have places where they can gather and share their stories. I firmly believe that as a feminist (yes, you heard me) and as a Latino Gay person living out a multitude of minority experiences in this country. What I wrote on the little history page of the MenKnit site was this:
There is a great history of men who knit. In fact most historians agree that knitting probably began with men. The thinking goes that knitting grew out of the knitting of fishing nets.
According to The Complete Encyclopedia of Stitchery by Mildred Graves Ryan, most historians agree that knitting was probably spread by Arabian sailors and merchants who traveled throughout the Mediterranean. These were most likely male sailors. In fact there are a number of knit patterns that date back to these Arabian forebears.
Now, I'll stand by my points about Debbie Stoller's book providing an inaccurate history of knitting. I still think its a great book. It is in fact included on the "LEARN" page of the website for folks who are looking for resources on where to begin.
As for men knitters wanting applause, this is ridiculous on the face of it. Let me make a few pronouncements here about what women knitters want.
Well, actually, let me not make any pronouncements. Because I find gross generalizations to be disgusting and oppressive whoever is wielding them. The same could be said for comments about what "male knitters want."
You will find male knitters who do their own thing and have knit for years and never talked about it. You'll find new male knitters who need some assistance just like all other beginning knitters. But, applause? No. Actually most of the male knitters I know roll their eyes when another knitter (usually a woman) makes a big fuss about their knitting. "Where did *you* learn to knit." "*Why* did *you* learn to knit." I can't count the number of times I've been with a group of knitters and been asked that question only because I'm the only male knitters. It does lead one to feel like a circus freak when all you want to do is knit.
But if you want to know why the website exists, I am reminded of the email I received last month from a school teacher in Arkansas. She had taught her gradeschool kids to knit. It helped with hand eye coordination and following instructions. They all, boys and girls, took to it well. Then the kids went home and the parents of the boy students were enraged that the teacher had the temerity to teach her boy students how to knit.
This teacher was writing me to thank me for the website. She liked the pictures of boys and men knitting and yes, the history. But she was also asking for advice. She said she felt "crushed" because she could see that the boys we confused. They had felt "so proud of their accomplishment." And now some pointy-headed, stuck-in-some-1950s-genderbox, parents had destroyed all of that.
Yes my sisters. People do still get knocked for knitting. There are different kinds of repression and they are all horrible. Please embrace people taking up craft. Don't piss all over it. Its rude and unnecessary and bad manners. MenKnit.net is one small website. If it has gleaned so much attention, ask all the women writers and editors who have chosen to give the attention. I can tell you for one that we've received NO interest from male reporters. What does that tell you?
As for people using the term "femi-nazis": I find it unsound for crafty people to be using terms invented by Rush Limbaugh. I mean, consider the source. Ugh ugh ugh. Not to mention its insulting and misogynistic and seeing as how it's coming from that homophobic, anti-choice, zealous windbag Limbaugh even more repugnant.
