We all know what “arts and crafts” is. Arts and crafts can be defined anywhere from a young child cutting and pasting paper together, so as to make a heart for her mom on Valentine’s Day, to a hobbyist carving a fruit platter to a professional quilter creating a wall hanging.
“Craft” is the word I want to focus on. Online dictionary definition: “The activity of involving skill in making things by hand.” Craftsmen and craftswomen, involved in the same making-of, would surely discuss their shared passion in intricate detail, laced with specialized lingo.
Artists work tirelessly on their craft. A ballet dancer practices the descent of her jump so that her landing seems effortless and without injury; a violinist tightens his strings just right and holds his bow at the proper angle, so that he can execute a firm staccato passage; and a stage actor rehearses a particular moment until he produces the perfect inclination of his head and intonation of his words.
We can, also, place special words in front of the word “craft,” so as to be specific to the exact type of craft we are engaged in, such as:
Witchcraft: stir the cauldron and cast a spell
Stagecraft: all the behind-the-scenes work, like, lights, costumes, make-up, scenery design, etc
Statecraft: a study of politicians’ approach to strategic choices made
Craft can also mean a vehicle that operates in water or a vacuum, like a spacecraft, aircraft, or watercraft — which would mean a spaceship, plane or a ship, respectively. Craft beer, anyone? This refers to traditionally made beer in a small brewery. But don’t be crafty, deceitful, devious, or cunning!
What is your craft?
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