There is widespread discussion regarding the potential impact upon how we live and work of increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Some people envision a utopian future, in which AI delivers a world of freedom and plenty, but others fear a dystopian nightmare. The Arts and Crafts Movement emerged in the United Kingdom during a time of rapid industrialisation and social upheaval. We might be able to learn something from the movement that could help us to navigate our own period of rapid change.
The Industrial Revolution
During the Industrial Revolution millions of people left behind a rural way of life, with its traditions and natural cycles dominated by the seasons, to find work in rapidly growing towns and cities. Prior to this, everything that people used and owned was a product of the natural world or created by artisans, using skills that had been passed on through the generations. However, most artisans could not compete with lower priced items made in factories. While some celebrated the growing wealth of Britain, others were critical of the poor living and working conditions endured by millions of people and the loss of ancient traditions.
Emerging in Britain during the nineteenth century, in response to the impact of The Industrial Revolution, The Arts and Crafts Movement sought to improve living and working conditions for the industrial working class. The social values and creative vision of John Ruskin and William Morris played an important role in the movement. Critical of the soul destroying nature of mass production work in factories, they promoted the use of traditional skills and natural materials in workshops, although machines could be used to complete some repetitive tasks. It was recognised that handmade arts and crafts could not replace the range of inexpensive mass produced objects available to consumers. However, the work brought a greater sense of meaning and purpose to the artisans and pleasure to those who valued the qualities of handmade work.
Held at Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, between May and October 1851, The Great Exhibition was intended to showcase great achievements of culture and industry. However, many visitors were disappointed by the poor quality of factory made items. They were critical of an excessive use of ornamentation, lack of practicality and poor build quality. This led some writers, artists and designers to criticise what they considered to be a decline in standards. Books were published, describing what the authors considered to be good design principles, along with recognition by some of the value of traditional arts and crafts.
Many writers and artists during this period portrayed in their work an idealised version of the past, finding inspiration in the Classical world or medieval art and culture. However, they often ignored the inequalities and conflict found within such societies. Their imagined worlds portrayed people living in harmony with the natural world, according to traditional values. Philosophers discussed the characteristics of their vision of an ideal society, leading to the rise of various social movements. While some people sought to escape from their difficult living and working conditions through various forms of addiction, others looked for ways to remake society. We can see many parallels with the world we live in today.
Learning From The Arts and Crafts Movement
Throughout human history, the skills required to live and work changed slowly over the centuries, allowing people time to adapt. However, as early as the late eighteenth century skilled craft workers began to fear the impact of machinery. In the north of England a group of such artisans called the Luddites destroyed machines used in textile production. The concerns they expressed about loss of skilled jobs, due to the introduction of new technology, are similar to the fears that millions of people across the world feel today regarding the use of AI and robotics. Although much work requiring physical labour was replaced by machines, new jobs eventually emerged that required human intelligence, creativity and imagination. However, many people fear those jobs will now also be lost.
The Arts and Crafts Movement sought a practical approach to building a better society, by promoting a world in which people live in a beautiful environment, enjoy a good quality of life and are inspired to be more creative and humane. Enduring poor quality living and working conditions undermines physical and psychological health and can cause people to loose interest in issues that do not relate directly to their immediate survival needs. People able to provide for their essential needs, doing fulfilling work, would be more likely to focus some of their time and energy on social, environmental and cultural matters.
Consumer society during the twentieth and twenty-first century delivered material benefits to the lives of millions of people, but also increased feelings of isolation and alienation. Many have found themselves working long hours doing jobs they hate in order to pay their bills, or buy items that they hope will make them happy. However, jobs can also provide a sense of purpose and self respect. In many parts of the world industrialisation took place in a single generation and people are still attempting to adapt, but this coming technological change could be even more rapid and its impact more profound. If society fails to provide people with the means to develop a sense of meaning and purpose, as part of a community, the result could be increasing hopelessness, despair and decline, which technology alone will not remedy.
The psychological, social and economic impact of the Industrial Revolution might provide the best model we can look to, as we attempt to cope with an uncertain future. The work of John Ruskin, William Morris and others within The Arts and Craft Movement inspired generations of artists, designers, craft makers and architects. The ideals of the movement regarding social and environmental issues also influenced policies relating to matters such as education, health care, housing and the environment. This has parallels with challenges confronting our world in the twenty-first century. We might learn something of value from those previous generations whose lives were also transformed by technology.