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A review by alanffm
Useful Work versus Useless Toil by William Morris
3.0
I am conflicted about this short anthology of essays. Some essays are great, some, well, not so great. Ultimately, I think reading Ruskin could substitute for most of Morris' works—if not entirely.
The works included in this small volume are:
1. Useful Work vs. Useful Toil 2/5
This is some hot communist-utopian trash that tries to argue that labor ought be enjoyable for mostly everyone.
2. Gothic Architectures 4.5/5
Amazing history and analysis of the evolution and purpose of Gothic architecture. My only gripe is that Ruskin's analysis in Stones of Venice is better (and actually cited in this essay).
3. The Lesser Arts 4/5
This essay highlights the importance of art in daily life—notably in the education of some skills (like drawing) and consumer products like furniture and other minor goods. The idea here is that small strides towards art help make society better and that the capitalist MO of making everything cheaper is also creating an artistic void in peoples daily lives which must be resisted.
4. How I Became a Socialist 1/5
I have no idea why the editors included this two page essay in the anthology. I understand that the Arts & Crafts philosophers (of which Morris is a part of) were socialists, but really, this essay is of little importance in 2024. Morris' arguments are not terribly coherent and very, very idealistic.
The works included in this small volume are:
1. Useful Work vs. Useful Toil 2/5
This is some hot communist-utopian trash that tries to argue that labor ought be enjoyable for mostly everyone.
2. Gothic Architectures 4.5/5
Amazing history and analysis of the evolution and purpose of Gothic architecture. My only gripe is that Ruskin's analysis in Stones of Venice is better (and actually cited in this essay).
3. The Lesser Arts 4/5
This essay highlights the importance of art in daily life—notably in the education of some skills (like drawing) and consumer products like furniture and other minor goods. The idea here is that small strides towards art help make society better and that the capitalist MO of making everything cheaper is also creating an artistic void in peoples daily lives which must be resisted.
4. How I Became a Socialist 1/5
I have no idea why the editors included this two page essay in the anthology. I understand that the Arts & Crafts philosophers (of which Morris is a part of) were socialists, but really, this essay is of little importance in 2024. Morris' arguments are not terribly coherent and very, very idealistic.