Cultural Artifacts Essay Examples

Essay Instructions:

Dr. CheuWRA 101 Fall 2017PAPER 2: SHORT CRITICAL “CULTURAL ARTIFACTS” PAPER.Due Dates: Peer Response: October 11, 2017; 2 pagesFinal: October 18, 2107 (Papers due in Hardcopy at the beginning of class, not Dropbox)5 Pages double-spaced, excluding Works Cited. MLA Format.No Late Papers!Background: Our study of critical discourse reveals to us that considering familiar things in new ways enhances our understandings of the artifacts that inform our everyday lives. In this paper you will have the opportunity to analyze an artifact or artifacts from popular culture to shed new light on the meanings of those artifacts. Remember as you select your artifact(s) that your goal is to practice using critical analysis and critical writing to generate new knowledge about those artifacts. In this paper, your job is to select a set of cultural artifacts that share a common theme and use the critical concepts we have discussed (how Millennials view gender, sexuality, ethnicity, politics, sports, education, beauty, power, social constructionism, etc.) to discern what those artifacts mean and how they mean what they mean.
In terms of gender/ethnicity/sexuality, for instance, much of America's history of these isssues lie in cultural artifacts — in ads, figurines/dolls, toys, cars, sports equipment, in political cartoons. Much of masculine imagery, as an example, has been appropriated as well, perpetuating certain ideas and stereotypes in our culture (think the Viagra/Dysfunction ads — yes, those are targeted towards a male audience — the "Be All You Can Be" Army ads, or the Incredible Hulk, the Indian images found on Cleveland Indians gear, the Washington Redskins, as "savages" and so forth. In terms of tattoos or piercings, one might think about fashion, when everyone started getting Asian calligraphy tattoos, for instance, did this make the artifacts lose their cultural significance?).
For this assignment, please select either (at least) 3 images/artifacts and analyze their significance.
• These artifacts, taken together, ought to illuminate, (make an argument) about how the Millennial Generation views a certain issue. For example, if you guys have a more progressive view of sexuality then previous generations, what are some TV ads or magazine ads, or songs that show a more open view of sexuality?
• Students have an easier time with this assignment if they pick artifacts that all covey a certain idea. Again, as an example, “the rugged man”: So, cologne ads, war toys, the “Brawny paper towel guy,” Army ads and posters that covey one idea of “toughness” or “ruggedness.” My suggestion then is to mix the kinds of artifacts you choose to analyze, to make discoveries about, if you want, but to make sure that they all revolve around a central idea or issue or stereotype you want to explore.
Some artifacts:
• ads: you tube — or ads from “Health/Fashion” magazines
• historical documents
• political cartoons
• dolls/toys and (Hot Wheels, Transformers, etc.)
• Films: You may ONE mainstream American Hollywood feature film if it relates to your common theme. For example, if you are examining the “Failure to Launch” idea: Failure to Launch, The Waterboy, etc, The following restrictions apply:
► You may NOT analyze: 1) a film on the Class Daily Syllabus, such as Her.
► Use of Film Terminology from the handout/class is expected as part of your analysis. I'll be looking for you to employ at least 2 film techniques as part of your analysis.
Please provide copies of the ads, the photographs, or You Tube links.
Please note: You may use quotes and moments from the in-class readings and films to support your findings about the artifacts. This includes Guyland, Her, (No, you may not analyze the film itself!) and Ethnic Notions. You may also do some outside research on your own, about the images you choose — news articles, substantial film reviews, magazines, blogs, anything but Wikipedia.
YOU MAY NOT USE WIKIPEDIA OR DICTIONARY.COM AS SOURCES. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SEE IT ON YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE!
The paper must include:
•A thesis, a.k.a. main focus point: A thesis for me means stating not just what you intend to “prove,” but how you intend to prove your argument. This doesn't mean every specific example/detail you are going to use in your analysis; rather your thesis should include key words/concepts that provide a kind of “road map” for how to follow your analysis.
Every strong argumentative analytical essay contains three essential components:
1. What are you going to “prove” (the argument)
2. How you are going to prove it (the method)
3. What is the point of reading — what is the significance of your argument? (Yes, the men in Guyland are trapped within certain conventions of gender, so what? What are we supposed to learn from this?)
• 5 pages in length (12 pt. font w/1” minimum margins), excluding Works Cited page. Drafts for peer Response must be two pages.
• Follow MLA format. See your Blue phamplet. Please put Works Cited on a separate page.
A Word about your Findings: You ought to be able to say something here beyond “stereotypes are bad” or “these images are unrealistic/sexist” as your conclusion. These things we already know. The point here, in thinking about meaning, is to say what ideas or images are perpetuated via these artifacts; how do these artifacts influence how your generation thinks about a certain issue or an idea.
Grading of Drafts
Drafts will not be graded, but will be commented on by your classmates. To insure, however, that people produce drafts of substance, (no “I-dashed-off-five-sentences ten-minutes before-class, gimme credit”), I require you to produce a minimum of 2 pages for credit in your participation grade. A √ is full credit; √- is a lowering of your participation grade by .5. This is a quantity grade; not a quality of writing grade. Again, if you don't turn in any draft, your participation grade is lowered by .5.
The “Down and Dirty” Quick synapsis:
At Least Three Artifacts:
If you include One Outside Film, please use at least 2 film techniques — please list these in your thesis

Essay Sample Content Preview:

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Cultural Artifacts
Cultural artifacts generally have significant meanings to the everyday lives. This paper provides a critical analysis of several artifacts from popular culture for the purpose of shedding new light on what those artifacts mean. The selected artifacts share one common theme of gender stereotyping. In previous generations, there were certain tasks or roles that were supposed to be performed by people of a certain gender only. For instance, previous generations viewed nursing as a profession only for women, cooking was seen as a female-only task, women were viewed as being unable to drive manual cars, men were viewed as not able to multitask, and building and construction roles were only for men. In the current generation, millenials hold a different view and they tend to see men and women as equals. This paper seeks to prove that. It does so through the use of adverts that counter gender stereotypes. It is of note that millenials have a more open view of gender roles than previous generations.
Figure 1: Even men can multi-task

The Nivea advert above counters the long-held stereotype that men cannot multitask. The ad shows a metrosexual man who obviously cares about his skin and how he looks. He smiles coyly and has smooth features rather than the stereotypical rugged good looks. The slogan used in the ad “Who said men can’t multi-task?” clearly challenges male stereotypes. The model is touching his face most probably to feel how lovely and soft it is because of the product being advertised here, namely Nivea Men. Most people of the past generations have always held the belief that men are unable to multitask, whereas women are able to perform a number of different things at the same time. Even so, this artifact appears to be saying just the opposite of that belief. It clearly demonstrates that men are able to multitask just like women. All in all, the idea being perpetuated by this artifact is that the belief that men cannot multitask in wrong. The artifact influences how the Millenial Generation thinks about the issue of gender stereotyping by shedding light on the fact that men can, in fact, multitask just like their female counterparts. Actually, millenials strongly believe that men can do different things at once.
Figure 2: Men doing household chores

The second image in Figure 2 above counters the stereotype that it is only women who can do household tasks like ironing clothes. The artifact is an ad for Whipped Pinnacle Vodka. Other Pinnacle Vodka ads follow the same lines and show a man vacuuming a house, cooking, and even changing baby diapers. The text at the bottom on the left side of the image “Whipped so good” is used to convey that men who drink Pinnacle Vodka do not have a problem carrying out various chores in the house. Another text at the top of the image on the left side of the picture “Reason to get him Whipped” seeks to persuade wives to buy their husbands Pinnacle Vodka drink as this would encourage them to help them in their chores around the house. This artifact also perpetuates the message that men can do chores around the house. This is an idea that people of...

Updated on January 26, 2024

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Cultural Artifacts Essay Examples

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