"paper modeling" / "paper craft"?

[Rubenandres77]

(Not sure, I probably posted this in the wrong sub-forum.
I intended to post in "cardboard lounge".
Please move to the proper place for discussion if necessary, sorry)



Hello.

I have recently started wondering if there is
a difference between "papercraft" and "paper model".

Reason being that I have seen the first term mostly
related to paper models that are from/inspired in
things like anime, video games and sci-fi. Or is
applied to easy-to-build models. Usually the websites
that offer this kind of themes use the term "paper craft".

While the term "paper model" is most commonly seen
in places that offer (complex) models inspired in real-life ships,
aircraft, armored and wheeled vehicles, trains, and such.
And it can be seen in most of the stores and places like forums.

Of course there may be exceptions, and some sites do not
make this distinction. I think Japanese sites use "craft" as a
very general and indistinct term.

I'm sure that they must be two different things
(otherwise there would be only one word)
but, where does the difference lie?

Is it a difference in use? In origin?
(If I'm right the "craft" part has its origins in the Japanese
trend of making things with paper other than origami)

Or is there a practical difference?
(Most models labeled as "papercraft" are usually very simple,
with a small number of parts, and sometimes don't need glue
like the popular cubeecrafts).

As I said there can be exceptions: I've seen some
anime/videogame inspired models complex and difficult as hell.

But that's what I've seen along this few months that I've been
roaming the web looking for things to build in paper.

I would like to know your opinions about the use of this
two terms, and if there are any real differences among them
since they are practically the same thing: print/score/cut/fold/glue/enjoy.

Can the existence of the two terms create a kind of differentiation
that eventually leads to discrimination? Or is that phenomenon
already happening?

I studied languages at University, and I know that when there is
a linguistic difference, a real-life difference is present.
Because, you know: language configures thought, language is
a way of representing the world.

But I've been little time in this world of paper modeling/crafting.
And is possible that my view is still not properly formed.

I would like to read your opinions on this issue.


Ruben.

[bagpiper]

Hi Ruben. Funny reading this as I am working to connect up one of the banks in Columbia to a credit card network. It's located in Bogota as well. Small world as they say. ;-) Anyhoo to me the only difference I see is paper craft is the art of creating a paper model. paper modeling to me sounds more like what we do here. Paper craft could equally be this or oragami or kite making perhaps. But that is just my own interpretation. I see you studied language and I feel I was putting an English interpretation. Perhaps Japanese would interprate this differently. Perhaps it is nothing more than two words with the same meaning. Water, sea, lake, pond kind of thing. Just a variation of the same.

Cheers
Jim

[mbauer]

Hi Ruben,

The papercraft probably covers everything, while paper models could be a sub-title for just making actual models.

Lots of different Papercrafting. Jim mentioned oragami, included would be paper mache, etc..

Best regards,
Mike Bauer

[imavingalaughaswell]

here ya go ...

go read lol ...

Paper model - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Zakopious]

World names for card models, see:

Roman Legionnaire from ABC

Also:
Swedish
Pappersmodell
Klippark(smodeller)



Russian
Search for images using Google (other search engines do not seem to work well with Cyrillic letters)
модели из бумаги
Бумажные модели
моделей из картона
моделей из картон

[Art Deco]

Good question!

I have always assumed that "paper modeling" (i.e. making scale replicas) is a subset of "papercrafting", a more general term which covers all forms of paper manipulating art, including things like origami.

[Rubenandres77]

Thank you very much for your opinions on this.

It is a pleasure reading something from your own experience, than just reading cold definitions.

I somehow was biased towards paper modeling being an independent activity, but you've made me think that it is indeed possible that it is not. And rather it is part of a bigger whole.

And since I had -in my mind- made a strict separation between "paper models" (scale models of air/land/sea vehicles, buildings, and such) and "craft" (non-realistic models), I was letting outside some small but important things like art.

Now, if you read some of the discussions here: "Upon a Fold" - a blog about paper sculptures crafts, origami and more
there are things related to this questions, because the limits between artistic expressions, and modelling are sometimes difficult to establish.




Bagpiper: yes, a small world indeed


Cheers.


Ruben.

[airdave]

I guess it depends on how you put the word in context.

and, as you said, it would also depend on the language context.
In the English language we have turned many words into multiple uses (verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc)

As pertains to this discussion (related to "paper-modelling"):

A "craft" is basically a skill or talent.
So "paper craft" would be a skill or ability using paper as the basic medium.

A "model" as we have discussed before, is a recreation or representation of an object or theme (most commonly in a miniature form).

Therefore a "paper-model" will always be a "paper-craft", but a "paper-craft" doesn't have to be a "paper-model".