RosettaStone: CRAFT A primary, secondary, and annotated source reader for functional craft. By: Randi O'Brien

This is an annotated evaluation of the following:

DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture. by Amy Spencer
Amy Spencer, DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture (London: Marion Boyars, 2008)

Reviewed by Randi O’Brien

A comprehensive and holistic book on the development, distribution, and evolution of DIY culture, DIY: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture written by author (with an upcoming book soon to be out in 2011 London Clay), currently researching a PhD in Cultural Studies, Amy Spencer. Spencer presents a wide-ranging perspective of individuals working to create their own cultural identity in the wake of pop consumerism for an audience interested in the emergence of indie/DIY technology or an audience interested in the cultural revolution that has developed into today’s modern DIY culture boom. Spencer is impressive in her approach to address the multiple veins within the development of DIY culture, she highlights press, art, political, music, radio, punk, queer, feminism, and craft (to name a few) and has further addressed specific categories, individual, and movements within each genre. The depth of knowledge and research into these categories and sub-categories is masterful. My overall impression is that Spencer has developed this documentary in a realistic way while utilizing relevant, understandable, and applicable language.

While Spencer’s book only briefly documents craft, craftsmen would find this book useful for cultural developments and movements that connect current craft communities use of technology and have further united craft in the search for independence from mainstream culture. Though lacking the professionalism of a well edited scholarly book the book makes up in over all mass and wealth of interconnected knowledge to a variety of twenty first century independent practices.