What is a receipt?
It could be said that it is a document that proves that you purchased something at a specific time, date and at a specific place.
What is paper that has been hand made using that receipt?
It is another document; but the information which proves that it is indeed a receipt has been lost in the process and the recipient of this sheet of paper has no proof. And so by erasing this information; which proves beyond doubt that an economic transaction took place, there is now only the maker’s word.
Should you trust the maker’s word that this is what it is, when you have no evidence?
A number of things come to mind on this blustery night in the mountains.
In Marx’s Das Kapital he talks about value in terms of objects that have been processed so that they have a ‘use value’. He gives an example of the value of a length of linen compared the value of a shirt. The shirt is something that has been designed, cut, sewn and finished so that it is a usable object – and there is a ‘use value’ in this as you can buy the shirt and wear it immediately. On the other hand the length of linen, although very useful is an object that requires the buyer to then ‘do’ something with it, such as make a shirt and so therefore it has a different value. It is up to the maker and the purchaser to negotiate a value for the shirt. This then leads to the question of what method was used to make and how much time it took, whether it was done by machine or by hand – so now we are looking at value in terms of time.
The receipt took a few seconds to print. The sheet of paper took several hours. Am I adding something or taking it away?
I recently learned that in Chinese fashion history a machine made shirt was much more coveted and therefore of higher monetary as well as social value than a hand sewn shirt, even though the machine shirt took a lot less time to make and was the same as every other shirt that came out of the factory. I would seem that the value of a hand-made or machine made object also has to do with culture. Unique objects or one-offs are not always prized. Sometimes we want to be the same as others – so we fit in.
The other thing I was thinking about was the earlier works of the artist William Pope L; who uses, amongst other things, food in his work. Of specific interest to me; he made Eating the New York Times, a performance where he ‘ate’ paper. He is interested, as I am, in the notion of consuming; eating, taking in information and purchasing. The receipt has is a result of a purchase, something needed or wanted. It also contains some information. When I reflect on Pope’s works I find myself questioning they way in which we consume. Most of the time I have no idea of the origins of what I consume whether it is food ;a current example being the horsemeat scandal, or information; I listen to and spread idle gossip, share information online and have private phone conversations in public. The media and press mirror this activity and print and broadcast information based on what’s on Twitter or Facebook. To some extent it is a great liberator and allows stories of public to come to light much quicker but I suppose what I am saying is that we may consider what we consume but it is difficult not to get sucked in and expose my mind and body to things that given an informed choice I may not consume.
Anyway, getting back to the receipt and the paper; I’m also thinking about Walter Benjamin’s Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction and the value of the essence within this paper juxtaposed with its repetitive yet hand-made process. Is the essence evident? Is it of value? Is it important to retain something human, perhaps imperfection in the things we make and use and see?
And another thought floating around my head is words; mainly because I started to tear out words from the receipts today. Will this retain some of the proof I spoke of, or some of the essence, will a sheet of paper with a word on it have more or less value, do the words tell us about consuming, how can words be used or do they need to be used – is the whole purpose not to erase the words and cultivate trust in a persons’ own word?
It is only day three and look how complicated it is getting. Ian (who runs Cló along with Oona and Marjorie) asked me today; what is the simplest way I can do this. I think the only way I will find this out is by getting deeper into it. Which may make it more complicated but it’s kind of like a ball of knots, I will continue patiently; at times, hopeful, frustrated but ultimately seeking resolve and eventually (some day before I die) it will become clear.
It could be said that it is a document that proves that you purchased something at a specific time, date and at a specific place.
What is paper that has been hand made using that receipt?
It is another document; but the information which proves that it is indeed a receipt has been lost in the process and the recipient of this sheet of paper has no proof. And so by erasing this information; which proves beyond doubt that an economic transaction took place, there is now only the maker’s word.
Should you trust the maker’s word that this is what it is, when you have no evidence?
A number of things come to mind on this blustery night in the mountains.
In Marx’s Das Kapital he talks about value in terms of objects that have been processed so that they have a ‘use value’. He gives an example of the value of a length of linen compared the value of a shirt. The shirt is something that has been designed, cut, sewn and finished so that it is a usable object – and there is a ‘use value’ in this as you can buy the shirt and wear it immediately. On the other hand the length of linen, although very useful is an object that requires the buyer to then ‘do’ something with it, such as make a shirt and so therefore it has a different value. It is up to the maker and the purchaser to negotiate a value for the shirt. This then leads to the question of what method was used to make and how much time it took, whether it was done by machine or by hand – so now we are looking at value in terms of time.
The receipt took a few seconds to print. The sheet of paper took several hours. Am I adding something or taking it away?
I recently learned that in Chinese fashion history a machine made shirt was much more coveted and therefore of higher monetary as well as social value than a hand sewn shirt, even though the machine shirt took a lot less time to make and was the same as every other shirt that came out of the factory. I would seem that the value of a hand-made or machine made object also has to do with culture. Unique objects or one-offs are not always prized. Sometimes we want to be the same as others – so we fit in.
The other thing I was thinking about was the earlier works of the artist William Pope L; who uses, amongst other things, food in his work. Of specific interest to me; he made Eating the New York Times, a performance where he ‘ate’ paper. He is interested, as I am, in the notion of consuming; eating, taking in information and purchasing. The receipt has is a result of a purchase, something needed or wanted. It also contains some information. When I reflect on Pope’s works I find myself questioning they way in which we consume. Most of the time I have no idea of the origins of what I consume whether it is food ;a current example being the horsemeat scandal, or information; I listen to and spread idle gossip, share information online and have private phone conversations in public. The media and press mirror this activity and print and broadcast information based on what’s on Twitter or Facebook. To some extent it is a great liberator and allows stories of public to come to light much quicker but I suppose what I am saying is that we may consider what we consume but it is difficult not to get sucked in and expose my mind and body to things that given an informed choice I may not consume.
Anyway, getting back to the receipt and the paper; I’m also thinking about Walter Benjamin’s Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction and the value of the essence within this paper juxtaposed with its repetitive yet hand-made process. Is the essence evident? Is it of value? Is it important to retain something human, perhaps imperfection in the things we make and use and see?
And another thought floating around my head is words; mainly because I started to tear out words from the receipts today. Will this retain some of the proof I spoke of, or some of the essence, will a sheet of paper with a word on it have more or less value, do the words tell us about consuming, how can words be used or do they need to be used – is the whole purpose not to erase the words and cultivate trust in a persons’ own word?
It is only day three and look how complicated it is getting. Ian (who runs Cló along with Oona and Marjorie) asked me today; what is the simplest way I can do this. I think the only way I will find this out is by getting deeper into it. Which may make it more complicated but it’s kind of like a ball of knots, I will continue patiently; at times, hopeful, frustrated but ultimately seeking resolve and eventually (some day before I die) it will become clear.
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