Other Thoughts

One thing that has been bugging me about "DIY" is the definition. Well, I don't really know what the definition is. There seems to be a stereotype of the DIYer that includes a grandma knitting little rosettes or something kitschy and tacky. I personally think it should be applied to everything. Anything you create mostly yourself can be DIY. And anyone:

Kids - All that crafting you did as a child? That's was DIY. Now you just have better taste (hopefully).
Teens/YAs - Searching for a unique identity; perhaps don't have much disposable income to buy expensive designs
Homeowners - Can save a lot of money by DIYing
Politically Motivated - Opposed to worker exploitation, Environmental harm
Gifters - Yes Grandma's afghan's can be considered crafting or DIY
Tech Savvies - Wish to create better objects or ones tailored to their uses- DIY computer!
Drinkers - The growing popularity of beer brewing...

I just believe that DIY is such a broad term! Lots of things are DIY. I'm not sure people realize that or make the connection. I don't know that it matters, it's just something I've been thinking about.

Or when a company steps in and curates your DIY experience, what then? Is it HDIY? Hybrid DIY? Plain ol' DIY? Not DIY? I'm not sure!

Examples:

Nike allows consumers to design their own shoes, Build-a-Bear allows kids to make their own teddies. What can this be called? Just customization? Is that really different from DIY? Is it?

And techno/virtual DIY. Recording your own music on garageband? Photoshopping your own photo? It's art, I will definitely argue that. But is it DIY? People are indeed doing it theirselves...but the term DIY has such a strong connection to physicality that confuses me. I'm not sure there is an answer, and I don't need one. But I will say that I think the DIY mentality and wants are becoming more mainstream, as evidenced by these other forms of 'customization'. It's all very interesting. Maybe the whole world is just becoming more hipster & we all want to be unique. ..have something no one else has (or has even heard of, for that matter).