TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

PROMO FOR 12/14/2008     "Re-Considering Crafts"
*America's gone craft crazy. Everyone's knitting, or keeping scrapbooks; throwing pots or
wood-working. And naturally, there are new chains of stores that carry all the supplies these
crafters need, or think they do. Next time, To the Best of Our Knowledge considers what we
mean by the word "craft." Does it mean a hand-made object that's almost art? Or could it be
anything that's thoughtfully done to the very best of the doer's ability? Reconsidering crafts, next
time, on To the Best of Our Knowledge.

PROGRAM RUNDOWN:   "Re-Considering Crafts"


0:00 - 21:43   SEGMENT 1: (21:44)
     Sociologist Richard Sennett's latest book is "the Craftsman" in which he makes the case
     that our definition of craft should be expanded to include any job a person commits to
     executing to the best of their abilities. He tells Steve Paulson that lots of working-class
     people care about what they do, with no expectation of material reward.  Also, Anne
     Strainchamps reports on the new vogue for hand-made goods in America.  She visits a
     major crafts show and speaks with vendors and shoppers, including the authors of
     "Handmade Nation" who also made a documentary film with the same title.  Anne also
     speaks with Betsy Greer, author of "Knitting for Good!"   
          
     Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio International."

21:44 - 22:13  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

22:14 - 34:18  SEGMENT 2: (12:06)  
     Jessica Helfand is the author of "Scrapbooks: An American History."  She tells Jim
     Fleming that people constructed unique personal narratives out of whatever materials
     were at hand, long before there was a scrapbooking business to help them. These old
     scrapbooks are both precious and beautiful. 
          
     Segment Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio International."

34:19 - 34:48  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

34:49 - 53:00  SEGMENT 3: (18:11)
     Kelly Lambert, author of "Lifting Depression: A Neuro-scientist's Approach to
     Activating Your Brain's Healing Power," tells Anne Strainchamps about her brain
     research into how using both hands on crafts projects can be as beneficial to the body as
     taking psychoactive medication. Also, Leonard Todd wrote "Carolina Clay: The Life and
     Legend of the Slave Potter Dave" to explore the history of two families - Potter Dave's
     and his own. Todd's ancestors owned Potter Dave during America's slavery days. Todd
     tells Steve Paulson some of the story and something about Dave's pots and his poetry. 
          
     Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number 12-14-A.


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