Craftsmanship and Alienation: Reconstructing Labor Subjectivity from a Marxist Humanist Perspective in the Age of AI

Jingzhu Cao

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.NS29551

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

Craftsmanship and Alienation: Reconstructing Labor Subjectivity from a Marxist Humanist Perspective in the Age of AI

Research Article

Open Access

Craftsmanship and Alienation: Reconstructing Labor Subjectivity from a Marxist Humanist Perspective in the Age of AI

Jingzhu Cao ^1*

¹ The Keystone Academy

^*Corresponding author: juliajingzhuc0615@gmail.com

Published on 11 November 2025

CHR Vol.98

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-531-8

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-532-5

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Abstract

Against the backdrop of rapidly developing industrialization and digitalization, the relationship between the meaning of labor and human subjectivity has once again become a focal point of social concern. Using Marx's theory of "labor alienation" as its core analytical framework, this article examines the manifestations and mechanisms of the "alienation---de-alienation---re-alienation" cycle between industrial production and traditional handicrafts, drawing on four case studies: smartphone manufacturing, Jingdezhen porcelain, Suzhou embroidery, and Zhangqiu iron woks. Employing qualitative comparative analysis, the study, through textual analysis and literature review, reveals the tensions between people, labor, and creativity across different forms of labor. The findings suggest that industrialized production, centered on efficiency and the logic of capital, leads to the comprehensive alienation of workers at the levels of product, process, self, and social relations. On the other hand, handicrafts, through control over the entire production process and emotional engagement, achieve a certain degree of restoration of human subjectivity. However, marketization and technological intervention may also trigger new forms of "re-alienation," particularly in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), where algorithmic production poses a potential risk of "creation without human touch." This article points out that in the future we should advocate "using technology to counter alienation" through digital intangible cultural heritage education, virtual exhibitions and cultural innovation.

Keywords:

labor alienation, craftsmanship, artificial intelligence, humanism, intangible cultural heritage

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References

[1]. Marx, K. (2016). Economic and philosophic manuscripts of 1844. In Social theory re-wired (pp. 152-158). Routledge.

[2]. Øversveen, E. (2022). Capitalism and alienation: Towards a Marxist theory of alienation for the 21st century. European Journal of Social Theory, 25(3), 440-457.

[3]. Mousa, M., Althalathini, D., & Avolio, B. (2024). Autonomy, competence and relatedness: how and why do artisan entrepreneurs act as responsible leaders?. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 31(5), 999-1020.

[4]. Christ, O. (2015). The concept of alienation in the early works of Karl Marx. European Scientific Journal, 11(7), 1–10.

[5]. Ilott, L. (2023). Genealogy Beyond Critique: Foucault’s Discipline and Punish as Coalitional Worldmaking. Political Theory, 51(2), 331-354.

[6]. Fromm, E. (2023). The essential Fromm: Life between having and being. Open Road Media.

[7]. Liu, R. (2022). In the face of instability and marginalisation in a gendered craft industry: Self-realisation and resilience of the self-employed craftswomen in Jingdezhen, China.International Journal of Business Anthropology, 12(2), 67-77.

[8]. Wang, Y. (2024). A dialogue between Suzhou embroidery and contemporary art from the perspective of Yao Huifen’s creation. Art Science and Technology, 37(16), 25–27.

References

[1]. Marx, K. (2016). Economic and philosophic manuscripts of 1844. In Social theory re-wired (pp. 152-158). Routledge.

[2]. Øversveen, E. (2022). Capitalism and alienation: Towards a Marxist theory of alienation for the 21st century. European Journal of Social Theory, 25(3), 440-457.

[4]. Christ, O. (2015). The concept of alienation in the early works of Karl Marx. European Scientific Journal, 11(7), 1–10.

[5]. Ilott, L. (2023). Genealogy Beyond Critique: Foucault’s Discipline and Punish as Coalitional Worldmaking. Political Theory, 51(2), 331-354.

[6]. Fromm, E. (2023). The essential Fromm: Life between having and being. Open Road Media.

[8]. Wang, Y. (2024). A dialogue between Suzhou embroidery and contemporary art from the perspective of Yao Huifen’s creation. Art Science and Technology, 37(16), 25–27.

Cite this article

Cao,J. (2025). Craftsmanship and Alienation: Reconstructing Labor Subjectivity from a Marxist Humanist Perspective in the Age of AI. Communications in Humanities Research,98,51-56.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICIHCS 2025 Symposium: Literature as a Reflection and Catalyst of Socio-cultural Change

ISBN: 978-1-80590-531-8(Print) / 978-1-80590-532-5(Online)

Editor: Enrique Mallen, Abdullah Laghari

Conference website: https://www.icihcs.org/Nawabshah.html

Conference date: 15 November 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.98

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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