Browsing by Subject "1800-luku"

The aim of this study was to interpret the significance of crafts in late 19th century Finland through Juhani Aho’s novels. Three novels were selected as the research material: The railroad, Papin tytär and Papin rouva. The theoretical background consists of an overview of the late 19th century societal history, defining crafts within the framework of the late 19th century, a brief literary historical review, and the role of gender in this thesis. The study is situated within the field of craft sciences and contains elements of historical research and literature research. The aim was to interpret the meanings attributed to craft and what they reveal about their own society. The study was conducted as discourse analysis. Excerpts that include craft were selected from the material and were then grouped into classes by using data-based content analysis. These classes were brought together and formed three categories. These categories were craft as a process, craft objects and craft skills. From these categories themes were derived and, by combining and reconstructing them, discourses around the crafts were formed. While forming these discourses, the material was reflected against the sociohistorical framework established in the theoretical background. Six discourses were formed around the theme of craft. These discourses were Craft as a part of daily life, The concentrated symbols and meanings in craft objects, Self-made clothing as an indicator of status, Craft as a voice of emotions, Craftmanship as a cursor of value, and Craft as a symbol of a virtuous woman. The importance of craft was proven through these discourses. The discourses show that crafts have been a major part of everyday life in the late 19th century Finland, regardless of a social class, age, gender, or any other societal position a person may have. However, craft objects also constructed and kept up societal differences. Nevertheless, the value of craft was evident not only in daily life but also in aesthetics, and craftmanship was taken for granted but still valued. Crafting was a necessity of everyday life, performed routinely, but it also carried meanings in conveying messages, building hierarchy, and processing and expressing emotions.