Against the backdrop of an alienating, technologizing and ever-accelerating world of material production, Marchand’s research into making and craftsmanship tells intimate stories about communities of making. During fieldwork Marchand participates directly as an apprentice and labourer, whether minaret building in Yemen, mud-brick masonry in Mali, or fine woodworking and furniture building in London’s East End. This talk presents conclusions from his recent book The Pursuit of Pleasurable Work (2021), his collaborations with a community of woodworkers training at an historic institution in London, and his reflections on the project since its completion. Reflecting on these accounts of learning, achievement and challenges reveal the deep human desire to create with our hands, the persistent longing to find meaningful work, and the struggle to realise dreams. In doing so Marchand champions greater appreciation for the embodied skill, ingenuity and intelligence that lie at the heart of craftwork.
Pitt Rivers Museum Research Seminar in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology, Trinity Term 2025
Fridays, 12pm-1.30pm (Weeks 1-4)
In person at the Pitt Rivers Museum Lecture Theatre (entry via Robinson Close).
Convened by Dr Beth Hodgett and Dr Christopher Morton
