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Competitive Tradition: Intellectual Property and New Millennial Craft
Author(s) -
Chan Anita Say
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
anthropology of work review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.151
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1548-1417
pISSN - 0883-024X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1548-1417.2011.01061.x
Subject(s) - craft , intellectual property , state (computer science) , government (linguistics) , cultural heritage , intangible cultural heritage , local government , political science , economic growth , business , sociology , economy , public administration , law , economics , geography , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , algorithm , computer science
In 2006, P eru's government awarded an intellectual property ( IP ) title known as a denomination of origin to the traditional ceramics made by artisans in the northern town of C hulucanas. The move was celebrated by the state as a culturally sensitive strategy for regional development that promised to preserve cultural tradition and heritage and to provide a model for future economic development strategies among other native populations across the country. This study explores the means by which rural and native communities – once framed as economically marginal actors and potential liabilities for the nation‐state – are selectively transformed into new agents of cultural innovation under contemporary IP ‐based development plans. Based on interviews with participants and planners of C hulucanas' IP ‐based development initiative, this research highlights how local accounts question the state's claims to use IP to pursue a national “export culture” and promote rural producers' global “competitivity” while simultaneously protecting local, collectively held production techniques.