For this paper, you should choose an artifact that demonstrates the “consciousness,” or deeper
shared meaning, of American Culture. In your analysis, then, you will do some research
examining the artifact in greater detail. Some questions you might answer with your research
include (but are not limited to):
1. When and where was this object made? Who made it and who did they make it for (its
intended audience)?
2. Why might the intended audience want to obtain this object? What meaning or value
does it have, beyond the obvious transactional value of the materials that went into
making it?
a. For example – the Chicago Cubs program above has value to me as a nostalgic
souvenir representing a (American) game and sports team that I identify with
because of where I grew up, and because my father and grandfather were fans.
b. This particular program also has “vintage” value to it. Its value is increased
because it is old and rare.
3. How does this artifact represent its era in time?
a. The Cubs program depicts a geometric design style that was very popular during
the 1960s, what we now call mid-century modern design. I had to Google “1960s
graphic design trends” and similar phrases to learn that. This design style was
also very American.
4. Does the artifact have ties to other recognized facets of American culture, such as a
particular expression of religion, or a particular period of popular culture expression
(such as the Saturday morning cartoons I grew up watching, or rap music which was an
American invention)?
5. How else might this particular object or artifact be representative particularly of
American culture?
*See the “Cultural Iceberg” section at the end of this assignment for additional ways to think
about digging into deeper cultural meaning.
So, what’s the assignment exactly?
Write a 4–5-page paper that introduces your object, explains why it has special meaning to
you personally, and attempts to dig out some of the deeper meanings inherent in your object
as a specifically American cultural artifact, that is, something that is particularly
representative of life and culture in America. Use the examples and questions above to help
guide your analysis. This paper should be double-spaced, written in 12-point font
