Labour in Artifact

Why this lens matters

Labour reveals who keeps the world running, including invisible, emotional, coerced, skilled and maintenance work.

Follow-ups

1. Is this labour visible, hidden, honoured or shameful?
2. What skills or training are required?
3. Who is excluded from or forced into this work?
4. How is failure repaired or punished?
5. What happens when workers stop?

Perspective shift

How would the person doing the least visible work describe this civilization?

Perturbation

What changes when this labour becomes impossible, automated or refused?

Example

Use this while working on the objects, tools, clothing, props and material culture: choose one concrete detail and ask how labour changes what it means.