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Deskilling is the process by which skilled labor within an industry or economy is eliminated by the introduction of technologies operated by semiskilled or unskilled workers. Work is fragmented, and individuals lose the integrated skills and comprehensive knowledge of the crafts persons.¹

Examples include CNC machine tools replacing machinists and assembly line workers replacing artisans and craftsmen.

Related to the topic of deskilling is deprofessionalization.

Examples of deprofessionalization can be found across many professions: pharmacists, social workers, nurses and librarians to mention only a few.

In an application to the arts, Benjamin Buchloh defines deskilling as "a concept of considerable importance in describing numerous artistic endeavors throughout the twentieth century with relative precision. All of these are linked in their persistent effort to eliminate artisanal competence and other forms of manual virtuosity from the horizon of both artist competence and aesthetic valuation."

References

^ "Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences". Retrieved on 2007-04-08.

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References

Further reading

See also