syllabus homework readings research information T. Bob's Home Page
Write your PRE RESEARCH ideas about the object. Describe it, in some detail (this helps you “re-see” something that may be so familiar you hardly notice it anymore.) Explain what attracts you t this artifact as your subject of inquiry. What personal connection or interest? What preconceived ideas about the artifact?
  1. Cultural Analysis
    And now explore the cultural context of the object. You can analyze it in terms of your own experience. Some questions may be helpful in your thinking about cultural context.
     
    bulletConsider your object. Who might use it? What might they do with it? In what situations? What kind of human relationships does the object suggest? What is the significance of the relationships? And therefore, what does the object tell us about us and our culture?
     
    bulletConsider the object as a vehicle of utility - what need does it fulfill? Do you consider it successful in its usefulness? Could its usefulness be improved?
     
    bulletConsider the object as a vehicle of communication - what does it say in terms of status, values, feelings, meanings? How might it be absurd?
     
    bulletConsider the object as a vehicle of delight - what does it say in terms of form and decoration?
     
  2. Interpretation
    An artifact is not subject to just one `correct' interpretation. This will vary by audience and by the person interpreting it. What is your opinion of the object? Why do you hold that opinion, and how did you arrive at it?

  C.  PROVISIONAL THESIS STATEMENT
 

  1. Write a provisional thesis statement for your paper. It will probably be along the lines of “(Your artifact) _is a (useful, dangerous, ridiculous, brilliant, choose your own adjective) object that illustrates the (intelligence, perceived social status, psychosis, herd instinct, paranoia, greed, success, choose your own condition) in contemporary (American, suburban, youth, midwestern, choose your own society) culture.

    “In our culture(corporations, schools, homes, garages, purses, etc.) _________ is used for ___________, but it symbolizes(highlights/conflicts with/ represents/falsifies etc.)
    social class(status/income/specific value/power hierarchy etc. etc. etc.”)