The word was formed on the stem of the classical Greek tekhne, whose original connotation was human skill or craftsmanship. In the early seventeenth century the word ‘technology’ was coined to denote the systematic treatment of these methods (Williams 1976: 33–4 Ingold 2000: 349 Ross 2005: 342). Until well into the seventeenth century, artists were thought no different equally described as ‘technical’.
The dichotomy, however, dates back no more than three hundred years. This proposition, along with the third which I shall consider in a moment – namely, that, unlike drawing, writing is a technology – hinges upon a dichotomy between technology and art that has become deeply entrenched within the modern constitution.
It is often alleged that drawing is an art, whereas writing is not. Let me turn now to the second of my four propositions concerning the distinction between drawing and writing.
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