Art, Crafts and Identity Narratives in Contemporary Capitalism: The Case of San Antonio, Ecuador
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos.2025.23.028Keywords:
craftsmanship, art, identity, Ecuador, tourism, capitalismAbstract
San Antonio is a village located in northern Ecuador, whose economic and social dynamics have historically revolved around craftsmanship and art. In recent years, this area has experienced significant economic pressures that hinder the development of artisan activities. This article analyzes how certain artisans in this city use narratives about their identity and ethnicity to cope with the complex structural conditions of contemporary capitalism. The information is based on qualitative-ethnographic data collected during a four-month fieldwork period. The results delve into two identity narratives: a) artistic identity as an articulation between individual creativity and socially constructed knowledge; b) a positive valuation of manual skills over mass production processes. The artisans of San Antonio can mobilize these identity constructions to access transnational networks that facilitate the circulation of their products. Therefore, identity constitutes a mechanism of agency in the face of processes inherent to contemporary capitalism.
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