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niks1112's avatar

What is the relation between bricolage and counter-bricolage?

Asked by niks1112 (410points) June 15th, 2010

Im having trouble doing a project because im not properly understanding the concept of each and more specifically between them both. What my project is, is to create a project that appropriates a bricolage trend from an influential subculture and turn it into counter- bricolage appropriate for the mainstream. but to get this project done i need to understand what it is asking for and what it means. could someone please explain?.. thank you!

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9 Answers

ipso's avatar

Try this clothes example.

niks1112's avatar

I actually just saw that webpage about 10 minutes ago, but for some reason im still really comfused. lets say I decide to make a purse out of duct tape, would that be turning a bricolage trend into a counter- bricolage appropriate for mainstream?

ipso's avatar

No. I don’t think so.

You have to have bricolage before you can have regurgitated counter-bricolage. How was the purse a composite of “meaning-laden” objects or signs (bricolage)?

ipso's avatar

If somehow duct-taped “fixed” purses became a huge trend (showing everyone how industrious, and Liberal, and anti-consumer, they really are) – and then you manufactured fake ones – that would be counter-bricolage (as I see it).

niks1112's avatar

hmmmm… okay, thank you @ipso!! so is there anything to you that comes to mind that is bricolage and how to make it into counter bricolage and somehow me be able to physically create something?

anartist's avatar

If an artwork were constructed by bricolage [assembling and combining various convenient bits, counter-bricolage would be deconstructing the artwork [taking it apart] and calling that process “art”

like the famous “drawing by deKooning, erased by Rauschenberg”

ipso's avatar

People who put stickers on their laptops to differentiate themselves as wholly unique, individualistic, and creative people.

I would sell laptop covers that faithfully (but economically) represent that.

We’re really overdue for that, don’t you think?

You could have:
– The “Fedora hat wearing hipster” looking cover.
– The Goth, pierced, black clothes, white skin look.
– The LGBT provides an array of possibilities – rainbows, dogs, Oscar Wilde sitting in a chair.
– You could have both Pro and Anti MAC covers.
– You could have multiple “fixie culture” covers – florescent, delivery bags, huge chain image, etc.
– The 50’s cool – tats – old cars.

It’s endless.

This really should be its own question. Go for it.

It’s a battle. People take things and “fight” the system by repurposing them in ironic or “meaningful” ways, and then industry just takes that right around and makes money off of it.

ipso's avatar

By the way – I read a book a while back that was related to this. The lead character was a coolhunter. A movie is being made.

niks1112's avatar

thank you for you responses and taking the time to help…

I think ive decided and im going with making gladiator shoes into modern gladiator sandels

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