Heuristic of the Deaf for the Hearing

 Posted by on Tue, 11/1 at 7:49pm  artifact networks & relationships  No Responses »
Nov 012016
 

1. My chosen artifact is a cochlear implant.

 

2. My artifact is a small device that has two pieces, an external and internal piece. The internal piece connects the damaged nerve to the brain by using a wire to create “fake” hearing, while the external piece interprets the sound. An official definition is:

Image result for define a cochlear implant
A Cochlear Implant is a device that can be surgically implanted into a person’s cochlea to stimulate it to cause hearing. It consists of a tiny receiver which is placed under the skin in the bony part behind the ear.

3. This device can be compared to a hearing aid, however there are some differences as well. First the obvious is they both aid hearing, however the “Profoundly Deaf” cannot benefit from a hearing aid.  If a person has any hearing to begin with, a CI will damage that hearing, causing the person to become completely deaf, while a hearing aid will not damage any existing hearing. While the external piece of a hearing aid and a ci are removable, the internal piece of a ci is not.

 

4. A device to cure an illness of the world.

 

5. This device can be classifieds as two ways, by the Deaf , this piece of machine takes away who you are, by the deaf or hearing, a device that “fixes deafness”.

 

6. Deaf people can do anything but hear.

7. Again it depends who you are talking to, the Deaf would say that this device takes away your deaf culture and identity, while other people will say it fixes hearing. However, this device does not create “normal or perfect” hearing, but instead a very robotic hearing.

8. I guess the only Doctrine would be that if you are Deaf and get it then you really aren’t proud of your deaf identity.

 

9. A cochlear implant takes away a Deaf persons true “deaf” identity, while the implant does not actually make you hearing.

Heuristics: Network and Relationship of Tattoo

 Posted by on Tue, 11/1 at 12:07pm  artifact networks & relationships  No Responses »
Nov 012016
 

Artifact: Tattoos

Classifications: Visual representation of individualism, status symbol, wordless introduction, attention grabber

Connections: Tattoos often represent the feelings or beliefs of the people sporting them. They act as a representation of ones self without having to speak. Not every tattoo has significant personal meaning to a person either. Often, a person just wants a tattoo on their body because they like the way they look and they like the way their bodies are with art added. This is why a tattoo has such a wide variety of interpretations as a cultural artifact.

Compare/contrast: A tattoo relates to JJ’s artifacts, beards and badges, in that JJ says that people (and primates) use these things as attention grabbers to attract people to them or bring attention to themselves. As JJ is talking about hipsters and it’s fair to say that plenty of “hipsters” use tattoos for the same reason that they grow beards or wear flamboyant things. We must not corn hole people with tattoos, or beards, or badges, to only hipsters, however. Lots of people grow beards for a very large number of reasons. Just as lots of people get tattoos for many different reasons. The main difference between beards and tattoos is that a tattoo is not as easily removed as a beard. A tattoo is far more permanent because its extremely painful and expensive to get a tattoo removed and all you have to do with facial hair is shave it off.

Metaphors: Tattoos are definitely a metaphor for art because they literally are pieces of art depicted on the skin of a human. Some people get tattoos of pictures, some get words, some get musical notes or lyrics to songs. Pictures, literature, and music are all classified as art.

Tattoos could also be a metaphor for an introduction. By displaying tattoos blatantly for all people around to see, you are posting something about yourself to everyone. Most of the people that will see them are strangers and you do not know and probably will never meet again.

Tattoos are characterized by the masses typically as a negative thing. Getting a tattoo is viewed by many as deviant behavior and an act of defiance of cultural norms.

Cultural narratives, stereotypes, and biases: To many people, tattoos are status symbols. In different cultures, tattoos mean different things. So tattoos in some cultures are symbols of strength or experience where as in other, more mainstream cultures, tattoos are a status symbol of someone who may be less educated than tattooed people, are in lower social classes, or are even dangerous people.

Tattoos, in some circles, are cultural land marks in people’s lives. Even in the modern day, being able to get a tattoo is related to a person becoming an adult in our society. A person cannot go out and get a tattoo whenever they want without a parent’s permission without being at least 18 years old. In some circles, tattoos represents actions that a person has taken in their lives and act as reminders for different points in people’s lives.

Culture affects tattoos  by putting people in different categories without using any words. It is not necessarily right to do this, but it is done just the same because of the negative connotations associated with tattooed people.

Tattoos affect culture by being symbols of people. I look forward to the day that there is someone in a political position in this country that has tattoos because that will be the day that we can have a discussion about the reasons people get tattoos and perhaps they can be viewed in a more positive light.

 

 

 

Toothbrush Stache.

 Posted by on Mon, 10/31 at 2:05pm  artifact networks & relationships  No Responses »
Oct 312016
 

1. How do you classify your artifact? In what groups can you place your artifact? What connections can you make to other artifacts in the group?

My chosen artifact is facial hair. My artifact is essentially a physical badge or statement about one’s self. Facial hair falls under the category fashion, with badges like makeup, clothes, nails and tattoos. These badges have meaning, both to us and those around us. They classify us into different kinds of people who belong to different groups or cliques.

 

2. Identify points of similarity between your artifact and others. Then identify points of difference with other artifacts. How is it similar? How is it different?

Facial Hair is a lot like makeup. Facial hair is a badge that men grow and groom to display attractiveness and masculinity. Makeup is similarly worn by women to display beauty and femininity. Both act as badges within groups to attract mates, impress others and to show off our best features. Both say a lot about a person. A man with a groomed beard might be taken for a hipster. If he had a long unkempt beard, that might signal to others that the man was either homeless or he lives in the woods. A woman who wears a lot of makeup can be perceived in just as many ways. Examples of these are attention-seeking, beautiful, slutty and so on.

They differ in on blatantly obvious way. Men grow beards, women do not. Women wear makeup, men do not. But steadily this is changing. Men around the world have been wearing makeup for all of their lives, not feeling comfortable with their assigned gender. Women are letting their eyebrows grow out instead of plucking them or they might stop waxing the hair on their lips. Their is still a lot of backlash in communities for people who defy the norms, but its slowly changing. Either way, these badges serve as statements to everyone about who we are with or without them.

Another large difference with makeup is that it’s easy to put on and easier to take off. Facial hair is more of a commitment. If you shave your mustache, that’s it. It’s gone. Make up can be reapplied.

3.  What metaphors or analogies suit your artifact?

A lot of people are seeing facial hair as a form of art now. A landscape to be groomed and trimmed like a fine lawn of grass. A hedge to be shaped into beautiful shapes. Others see it as a weed in society. A form of self expression that needs to be killed with pesticide. Oddly, it also works as an aphrodisiac for others. It brings passion and desire. For others it takes this desire away, a strong turn off.

 

5. How is your artifact characterized? (How do people/media/groups characterize it?)

In television and movies, facial hair is used to tell many stories. Depending on how the hair is groomed it can take on the form of a homeless man, a degenerate, an addict, an attractive groom, a strong lumberjack, the captain of a ship, and a narcissistic hipster. It all depends on what you’re watching. This artifact affects almost every narrative in a different way. The dynamic is complex and confusing, yet simple at its core. It’s simply a badge known as a fashion. Some have and some don’t. People make assumptions about you whether you have it or you don’t.

6. What cultural narratives govern your artifact?

Masculinity vs Femininity. Rich vs Poor. Fashionable vs Unfashionable. Conservative vs Liberal.

7. What assumptions, stereotypes, habits, social practices, and institutions frame your artifact?

In one stereotype you have a poor man, struggling to feed a family and make ends meet. In another narrative you have a weightlifter; the strongest man in the world. Or even a hippie who preaches love and peace. Some might even see a Mormon. It’s such a huge icon, you have stores selling fake mustaches and beards to kids. People who can’t grow facial hair are sold chemicals to solve their problems. Merchandise on the market is targeted solely for people who want to get rid of facial hair. People chastise others for not being able to grow facial hair all the time.

8. What doctrines or practices affect your artifact? (Or, what doctrines or practices you’re your artifact affect?) Political parties and platforms? Religious? Ideological? Which ones? Are there cultural “rules” and practices? Which?

Some religions practice growing beards, like Mormonism and Orthodox Judaism. Some companies and businesses bar employees from having facial hair. The military also has regulations on facial hair. It has to be trimmed and constantly maintained or cut off. Restaurants don’t want their cooks to have facial hair so it doesn’t get in the food. Bars and cafe’s might hire people with beards to maintain an edgy look. Some conservative crowds frown upon facial hair, while others in the conservative crowd maintain well-groomed mustaches and beards. Some facial hair trends have been banned, like the toothbrush mustache due to Hitler.

9. How does your artifact affect culture? How does culture affect your artifact?

Facial hair trends have evolved through the ages. Sometimes trends catch on and next thing you know, everyone is sporting a chinstrap beard. Likewise, people use new styles to make statements. Sometimes these statements catch on and people find it desirable. These new trends then create culture as a result.

Contour palette artifact

 Posted by on Mon, 10/31 at 12:18pm  artifact networks & relationships  No Responses »
Oct 312016
 

My artifact: Contour palette

1. How do you classify your artifact? In what groups can you place your artifact? What connections can you make to other artifacts in the group?

I would classify my artifact as something that has been created by culture because contouring is something that became popular by media. It was created due to the popularity of contouring by Kim Kardashian, so it can be placed in groups outside of the group of makeup. It definitely changed the makeup world, but it also influenced mainstream media because everyone started contouring. This is seen in ads and commercials, it’s seen on models and everyday women. It changed our beauty standards. Other artifacts that are related to a contour palette is liquid lipsticks and highlighters. They’re some of the main components of what cosmetic products are necessary to create the “it” look.

2. Identify points of similarity between your artifact and others. Then identify points of difference with other artifacts. How is it similar? How is it different?

A contour palette isn’t really comparable to any other cosmetic product. They’re similar to bronzers because you can use a bronzer to contour, but you can also use a foundation or powder that’s darker than your complexion to contour as well. So, contour palettes weren’t exactly needed, but they’re a fun new product that was created because of the rise in popularity of contouring. It’s mainly marketing and making people think that they need it, when it reality, they probably have something at home that they could use to contour with. Similar things to a contour palette would be like what’s mentioned above: liquid lips and highlighters. They are all born of the age of Instagram.

Create an analogy or metaphor for your artifact. Analogies and metaphors are ways of making connections between your artifact and other artifacts (anything goes… items of clothing, locations, holidays, texts, products, etc.). Be creative here… try to make (il)logical leaps.

3. What metaphors or analogies suit your artifact? (Explain if needed)

Designer makeup has always been a status symbol. If you’ve got the ABH contour palette, you’ve got the “best” contour palette on the market. But if you’re using a contour palette by ELF, clearly you don’t have your life together because you’re using drug store makeup, and the cheapest drug store makeup at that. It’s mainly for Instagram as well. You have to show off your makeup through posting pictures of the products and posting selfies wearing the product. It’s like posting pictures of your Christmas tree with all the presents underneath it and then posting a picture of all of your presents open. It’s all for social media and to brag.

Examine cultural narratives. Cultural narratives are common storylines used throughout culture, telling how things typically happen. Once you identify cultural narratives that apply to your artifact, you can examine them for assumptions and stereotypes. For example, stereotypes (or rigid, generalized ideas about the character and behavior of people with certain identities) are a kind of assumption (or set of assumptions). As with cultural narratives, you may think you are not affected by these assumptions and stereotypes. However, their pervasive presence in the culture means that everyone is affected by them. Naming these assumptions stereotypes can aid you when describing the impact of culture and values on your particular artifact (or your artifact’s impact on culture and values).

The assumptions operating in cultural narratives found in movie plots and song lyrics also get played out in social practices and social institutions. Social practices are shared, habitual ways of doing things. A variety of guidelines exist for the social practice of dating, for instance: who will initiate the date, who will decide where to go, who will pay. Social institutions are larger, more formalized organization the direct our shared social structures. Questions to explore (pick and choose):

4. How is your artifact characterized? (How do people/media/groups characterize it?)

It is characterized as a necessary thing to do makeup. It’s like, “omg what do you contour with?”. When talking to people about makeup, it would most certainly be a topic of discussion. It’s regarded in the media as something that makes a woman beautiful. If everyone (mostly) is contoured, it’s obviously had an affect on our beauty standards. The media portrays contoured women, so cheek bones and tiny noses must be attractive.

5. What cultural narratives govern your artifact?

There’s a certain aesthetic that has developed because of Instagram that I’ll call the Instagram aesthetic, but there’s a different cultural term that has surfaced I’m sure we’ve all heard. It’s the girl that always looks cute and put together in her posts. She’s most likely got some money, likes to wear Uggs and go to Starbucks and is probably white. This is the narrative that represents a large number of the women buying contour palettes and whatever else is trending in the makeup world, and then posting pictures of their products for the world to see.

6. What assumptions, stereotypes, habits, social practices, and institutions frame your artifact?

It’s the white girl on Instagram who totally loves makeup, coffee and her boyfriend. They’re the large portion of social media users that are directly influenced by what beauty bloggers have to say. They follow all the latest trends and buy all of the popular products. They spend hours on their phones watching bloggers Snapchats, Instagrams and Twitters.

8. How does your artifact affect culture? How does culture affect your artifact?

My artifact has affected culture because it changed the way that people do their makeup. It allows people to experiment with different techniques and shows people that they can literally paint a new face on themselves. Contouring was once mainly used by drag queens and makeup artists for theater and film, but it’s now being used everyday to define the features on the faces of everyday women. Culture has affected it because pop culture is what made contouring popular. If celebrities weren’t contouring, no one else would be either. It doesn’t matter if they’re famous in real life or famous because of the internet. Beauty bloggers became famous because of the internet and they’re creating beauty trends just as much as “real” celebrities are.

Snapchat

 Posted by on Sun, 10/30 at 11:48pm  artifact networks & relationships  No Responses »
Oct 302016
 

1. How do you classify your artifact? In what groups can you place your artifact? What connections can you make to other artifacts in the group?

My artifact is snapchat. It is an app for smartphone. On snapchat you can exchange videos and photos with friends. It is under the category of photos. With photos in the past, you develop them and make photo albums. With technology these days, it is easier to share photos with others in real time. Instead of waiting a few days to pick up your photos, the photos are already stored on your phone. You can send multiple photos at once as well. Photos were originally developed from the negatives and were dropped off at a photo developer store. Then came digital cameras. you could store more photos on there, it was less bulky, etc.. You could develop your photos with memory card. From digital camera came the phones with cameras on them. Now in 21st century, we have the Sglaxy, iPhone which have really good cameras on them. No one has digital camera anymore.

2. Identify points of similarity between your artifact and others. Then identify points of difference with other artifacts. How is it similar? How is it different?

Another app which is similar to snapchat is instagram.

Launched in 2011, Snapchat is a social media platform that allows you to take pictures and videos, add text to them, and send them to either one friend or to share them with all the people following you. It comes with a fun twist—once viewers open your Snap, they only have ten seconds to view it (or the duration of the video) before it automatically deletes itself and it’s gone for good. They operate on the “now you see it, now you don’t” principle. Snapchat also fun and exciting filters for their users. Snap chat is great for the selfie factor. There are filters that allow for airbrushing (butterflies and flower crown filter). With Snapchat you can select which users can view your photos and videos. Celebrities tend to use snapchat more.

Instagram: Instagram is used more in companies and also used for marketing. On instagram, the user does not have option to select one friend to view photos or videos, it is sent out to entire platform. Instagram is rewarded for their technology. It has a cleaner design.

Both these apps are used for sharing photos.

3. What metaphors or analogies suit your artifact?

snapchat is a drug- everyone is using it

snapchat is art- people can use filters or use text on their photos

snapchat is to attention as water is to thirsty- People are quick to post selfies

 

4. How is your artifact characterized? (How do people/media/groups characterize it?)

People see it as fun and silly. It’s a way to connect and keep in touch with others. Through photos you can spark conversations. You can share your photos and videos instantaneously. Some people viewed snapchat as a way to send nudes. Since the viewing option could be set to 5 seconds and disappear lots of people in the beginning began to use it for this. The thing is that photos never disappear. I think people caught on that and now just use it for the fun filters(rainbow tongue, dog ears, and beauty features for their selfies.

5. What cultural narratives govern your artifact?

Snapchat is used as a fun way to connect and share photos and videos with friends.

6. What assumptions, stereotypes, habits, social practices, and institutions frame your artifact?

As previously posted, stereotype of snap chat was that users used the app for sexting. Habits onSnapchat: users use the filters for selfies. There are way too many selfies on my newsfeed.  Make it stop! There are excessive filters. It used mostly by tweens and young women.

7. What doctrines or practices affect your artifact? (Or, what doctrines or practices you’re your artifact affect?) Political parties and platforms? Religious? Ideological? Which ones? Are there cultural “rules” and practices? Which?

There is a controversy going on with snapchat that the butterfly and flower crown filters airbrush features, make eyes and lips bigger, define jawline, makes people thinner. It makes the skin whiter, skin glow and hair shiny. It is a superficial and ideological image of beauty. It is putting everyone into one category: Pretty white girls. This app is used mostly by tweens(9-18) and young women(18-25).

8. How does your artifact affect culture? How does culture affect your artifact?

It is encouraging a selfie culture and self-centered society. It lets users personalize photos.

big butts… they’re everywhere!

 Posted by on Sun, 10/30 at 10:43pm  artifact networks & relationships  No Responses »
Oct 302016
 

1. How do you classify your artifact? In what groups can you place your artifact? What connections can you make to other artifacts in the group?

Butt implants can be classified as a social norm, beauty enhancement, and/or plastic surgery.

2. Identify points of similarity between your artifact and others. Then identify points of difference with other artifacts. How is it similar? How is it different?

Similar points that can be identified with butt implants could be breast implants, botox, breast augmentation, tummy tucks, eyebrow lift, or a face lift.
3. What metaphors or analogies suit your artifact? (Explain if needed)

Butt implants are like life savers if you ever drown, or, they could be used as a money maker, or, they could be used as a shelf. ( There’s an old wives tale that you know you have a fat ass, if you can sit a glass on your butt.)

4. How is your artifact characterized? (How do people/media/groups characterize it?)

It is characterized by glorification.  Media makes fun of them by comparing the butt to thigh ratio; or they call the people bootlicious, it seems as if normalized.

5. What cultural narratives govern your artifact?

If you have a bigger butt men will find you more attractive, or for women with real naturally big butts, people will automatically fake because of the size, or people might assume that you’re a stripper/prostitute/escort/or a negative connotation.

6. What assumptions, stereotypes, habits, social practices, and institutions frame your artifact?

Stereotypes could be ‘black women’ because they usually have bigger thighs, butts, etc. So if you are a black woman without a big butt, you might get surgery to fit in, and sometimes usually they’re ghetto or ratchet.

7. What doctrines or practices affect your artifact? (Or, what doctrines or practices you’re your artifact affect?) Political parties and platforms? Religious? Ideological? Which ones? Are there cultural “rules” and practices? Which?

Plastic surgeons having practices to be able to insert butt implants carefully as it can be a health hazard, 8; they aren’t performed properly.  Many people go out of the country to get surgery done because it’s significantly a lot cheaper, however the surgery isn’t done properly and they have to have the surgery re-done it the states, because it affects their health.

8. How does your artifact affect culture? How does culture affect your artifact?

Butt implants affect culture by having fashion trends, lyrics, music, being impacted by butts it’s like a cool thing to have a big butt.  Culture by having this trend of having a big butt, makes every one want to have a big butt, whether you have surgery or doing more squats.

Heuristic…Here-is-(tic)….Here-is-tidbit

 Posted by on Sun, 10/30 at 10:30pm  artifact networks & relationships  No Responses »
Oct 302016
 

Yeah, I know, my title’s weak, sue me. The other one was so good, I wanted to keep that pattern.

So, I don’t know if I’m going to stick with this artifact (is that allowed?), but I’m going to use it to answer this to see if it’s a good one I would want to pursue.

So, my artifact is Birth Control.

1. How do you classify your artifact? In what groups can you place your artifact? What connections can you make to other artifacts in the group?

Classifications include: Medicine, contraception, hormone-control, Hysterectomy

Connections: Condoms, the “Morning-after Pill,” Pain-relief (such as Pamprin), Medicine

2. Identify points of similarity between your artifact and others. Then identify points of difference with other artifacts. How is it similar? How is it different?

Birth control is similar to condoms because it prevents the fertilization of an egg to create a baby. It’s different because it is the responsibility of the woman to maintain a state of no risk when taking birth control, and it does not protect against STDs.

Birth control is similar to the Morning-after Pill because it negates getting pregnant. However, the morning-after pill is a last resort, where birth control should be taken regularly.

Birth control is similar to other oral medication such as Pamprin that is take to relieve/subdue the side effects of the menstrual cycle. It is different because pain relievers such as Pamprin do not inhibit/prevent pregnancy.

Birth control is similar to a hysterectomy because it suspends the ability to get pregnant. However, birth control is temporary. Hysterectomies have adverse hormonal affects, while birth control regulates your hormones.

Birth control is similar to medicine because it comes with side effects. It’s different because medicine usually treats conditions/symptoms and is (usually) non-gendered, while birth control prevents a condition, and is only for women.

3. What metaphors or analogies suit your artifact? (Explain if needed)

Loaded die; there’s no more gambling on whether or not you’re going to get pregnant.

Life support machine; if the woman taking birth control is actively having sex, then her pills can be seen as a life support machine for her sexual affairs – if she forgets one pill, it’s like pulling the plug, and could end her life as she knows it if she gets pregnant

Flashing “Open” for business sign; people assume that if a girl is on birth control, it means she’s ready to have sex/wants to have sex/is having sex. Of course, they have to have knowledge of it – there is no way for a person to tell by looking at someone, so maybe flashing isn’t the best example….

Safety-net (obvious)

*more to come, might edit this post if I think of more*

4. How is your artifact characterized? (How do people/media/groups characterize it?)

Note: I try to represent many different perspectives under the different categories. Of course, I probably don’t cover all of them, but I cover at least the common ones.

Girls:

-Makes them feel mature and womanlike

-Can be used for practical reasons (regulating their period)

-Used as a means to have sex without parents finding out

-May be made more sexualized after taking it (ie labeled as “easy” or a “sure thing,” but usually more often than not it’s related to behavior)

-May make them less likely to stay abstinent, knowing there is a safety net

Boys:

-Increases their chances at having sex with girls their age

-Don’t have to worry about supplying their own protection

-May not affect their opinion of girls at all

Young Women (20s):

-Allows them to engage in sexual activities without the fear of getting pregnant

-Liberates them by enabling them to have “one-night stands”

-They can focus on their career or other priorities (means of reassurance)

Young Men (20s):

-Responsibility is out of their hands

-Have to trust that their partner is actually taking it, and won’t stop on purpose to try and get pregnant

-Perception of girls who are dating material vs girls who are good for one-night stands (not sure if birth control influences this as much as behavior, but it might)

Wives/Mothers:

-Allows them to mitigate the chances of them getting pregnant (if they don’t want any kids, maybe no more kids, or no kids during a certain portion of their career)

-Enables them to maintain sex lives with their husbands

-May be nervous about their daughter’s sexual activity once she goes on the pill

Fathers:

-Birth control benefits them by maintaining a sex life without fear of having more kids

-Has to trust that wife is taking it, and will not stop taking it if she wants more kids

-Can be supportive of daughter’s independence

-May become more strict on dating rules

Media: I think the media encourages such contraceptive methods and endorses these over others, such as abstinence.

Purveyors of Pop Culture (TV shows, Media, etc): From my experience, I think TV shows directed at teenagers romanticize the pill by emphasizing sexual freedom and the ability to have sex outside of parental knowledge of the act.

After re-reading, I’m not entirely sure if I answered the “characterized” questions right. I just outlined the assumptions/beliefs associated by each different stakeholder. May have to go back and edit.

5. What cultural narratives govern your artifact?

“One-night stands” – with such a trustworthy contraceptive method that women are in control of (instead of trusting that the partner has a condom), women are free to go out and sleep with a stranger, or perhaps a non-stranger, but not a monogamous partner, without being afraid of getting pregnant

“Friends with benefits” – may open other avenues of sexual engagement

Liberation of the female body – women are now free to choose how they want to use their bodies, since they do not have to worry about getting pregnant.

Liberation of women with careers – women do not have to worry about getting pregnant and needing to take maternity leave from their career, whether they are married or not

Risk of Stroke/Medical Precautions – there are many women who are cautious/wary of birth control and it’s side effects. While there is not enough statistical evidence to ward off women, there are those who prefer other contraceptive methods because they fear for their health/future ability to reproduce

“Decline of responsibility and sensibility” – There is a much quieter narrative regarding birth control that purveys the pill has allowed too much liberation in the sense that people aren’t making wise choices with who they have sex with anymore. They disdain the culture of one-night stands, and prefer monogamous relationships, or perhaps abstinence until marriage.

6. What assumptions, stereotypes, habits, social practices, and institutions frame your artifact?

Assumptions/Stereotypes (already referenced above, so I’ll denote them briefly):

  1. Women have more sex/more non-monogamous sex
  2. Men relinquish responsibility/control

Habits:

  1. One night stands/casual sex

Social Practices:

  1. More casual sex lives
  2. If married, more control on how many children to have (more families are having fewer and fewer children because of the economy)
  3. Women have the ability to maintain a longer career track if they so choose

Institutions: Health care, Public school (sex education), Planned Parenthood/other women health care institutions,

7. What doctrines or practices affect your artifact? (Or, what doctrines or practices you’re your artifact affect?) Political parties and platforms? Religious? Ideological? Which ones? Are there cultural “rules” and practices? Which?

The Catholic Church is against birth control of any types, although not all Catholics prescribe to that belief. There may be other religions who also frown on using birth control.

While the majority of Feminism supports birth control, not all feminists agree with it’s results/repercussions of an over-sexualized culture.

I feel that both political parties would support the use of birth control because it prevents abortions, although I feel that Democrats/Leftists may endorse it more than Republicans/Conservatives. But this is just an inference.

8. How does your artifact affect culture? How does culture affect your artifact?

Birth control affects culture because it opens up more opportunities for women, to say the least. Whether it directly affects their lives, through being able to have sex without fear of getting pregnant, or indirectly affects their lives, through being able to have more control over their career, how many kids they want (if any), the quality of their marriage, etc., birth control changes culture by enabling women to be more active players in society. Whether they are successful business women, or actresses, or simply following their passions, women are enabled to have more successful careers. This also changes their love/lust lives, because they can now engage in sexual activities as often as they want, and perhaps with a wider variety of people than one would if they were anxious about the possibility of getting pregnant.

I think culture affects the artifact through gender norms. It may inhibit the artifact, because although women have a means to stay in the workforce and not have kids if they desire, society pressures them into settling down and raising a family. I think the stereotypes and assumptions also shape birth control, because it labels women who do utilize it for whatever purpose, even if it has nothing to do with promiscuity.

 

After all of this, I’m not sure if I’m going to stick with birth control. It’s kind of boring, but maybe I’m just not looking at it right. I don’t know if I’d want to write a paper regurgitating all of that, and I can’t think of a unique spin. I’m just not sure what other interesting feminist artifacts there are that aren’t overdone…is alimony an artifact?

Artif. Reseaux et Relationships (replacing Ideas): Luffy’s Straw Hat (Oct. 30th)

 Posted by on Sun, 10/30 at 9:59pm  artifact networks & relationships, ideas  No Responses »
Oct 302016
 

Classify your artifact. Classifications are helpful to understanding your artifact. Once you’ve placed your particular artifact in a larger group, you can make connections between your artifact and the general characteristics associated with that group. In addition, sometimes describing your artifact from within a larger, more generalized framework makes it easier to identify important features. Usually, an artifact can classified in various ways and placed in a number of groups.

1. How do you classify your artifact? In what groups can you place your artifact? What connections can you make to other artifacts in the group?

MY ARTIFACT, LUFFY’S STRAWHAT, I CLASSIFY AS THE FOLLOWING:

  • PHYSICAL
  • APPAREL
  • LEISURELY
  • NOSTALGIC/MEMENTO-IC
  • HERALDING
  • DEMOCRATIC
  • SYMBOLIC

Compare and contrast the artifact. Comparing your artifact to others allows you to generate new ideas about your artifact.

LUFFY’S STRAWHAT VS. MARINE CAPS WITH MARINE LOGO

  • PHYSICAL / PHYSICAL
  • APPAREL / APPAREL
  • LEISURELY / LABORistic (to wearers? [Luffy, Marines])
  • MEMENTOic / MEMEMTOic
  • HERALDING / HERALDING
  • DEMOCRATIC / SOCIALISTIC (NOT INDIVIDUALISTIC VS. SOCIALISTIC)
    • LIBERTY VS. SECURITY
  • SYMBOLIC / SYMBOLIC
  • Exclusive / Exclusive

LUFFY’S STRAWHAT VS. WELL-GROOMED (Hipster?) MUSTACHE

  • One-Wearer / Many-Wearers
  • For Body / FROM Body
  • Easy-going / Polished
  • Inclusive / Exclusive

2. Identify points of similarity between your artifact and others. Then identify points of difference with other artifacts. How is it similar? How is it different?

Points of similarity: 1) Outward Presentation of Inward Representation, 2) Numerology (with regards to person(s)), 3) Group Identity.

Point of difference: 1) Extrinsic Purpose, 2) History, 3) Ontological Obtainment Method

Create an analogy or metaphor for your artifact. Analogies and metaphors are ways of making connections between your artifact and other artifacts (anything goes… items of clothing, locations, holidays, texts, products, etc.). Be creative here… try to make (il)logical leaps.

3. What metaphors or analogies suit your artifact? (Explain if needed)

Symbolic as a Clock: working towards a certain time to come (when Pirates clash versus the other major world leaders, the World-Government and Marines).

Ontologically as an Identity “Wall”: some can be included within what it represents, some can not.

Deceitful as a Small, Physical Object: because they signify large forces at work in the world.

In a synthesis: Luffy’s Straw Hat could represent a Small, Physical Clock that acts as an Identity Wall !!

 

Examine cultural narratives. Cultural narratives are common storylines used throughout culture, telling how things typically happen. Once you identify cultural narratives that apply to your artifact, you can examine them for assumptions and stereotypes. For example, stereotypes (or rigid, generalized ideas about the character and behavior of people with certain identities) are a kind of assumption (or set of assumptions). As with cultural narratives, you may think you are not affected by these assumptions and stereotypes. However, their pervasive presence in the culture means that everyone is affected by them. Naming these assumptions stereotypes can aid you when describing the impact of culture and values on your particular artifact (or your artifact’s impact on culture and values).

The assumptions operating in cultural narratives found in movie plots and song lyrics also get played out in social practices and social institutions. Social practices are shared, habitual ways of doing things. A variety of guidelines exist for the social practice of dating, for instance: who will initiate the date, who will decide where to go, who will pay. Social institutions are larger, more formalized organization the direct our shared social structures. Questions to explore (pick and choose): I’ll take a brief shot at all of them for brainstorming and save what I can for later!

4. How is your artifact characterized? (How do people/media/groups characterize it?)

Extrinsically/Superficially, it seems to represent leisure and idleness. That is, the straw hat represents those who lay back on the beach, sipping on a margarita in the sand, or at least that’s the cultural narrative I think of when considering straw hats. There is the opposite end of the spectrum, those rice paddy hats, or, as ripped from Wikipedia “Asian conical hat”. This one tends to be associated with hard, back breaking work all day under the sun in wet, sticky, humid, marshes and rice paddies. There is a red stripe across it, and it makes me think of the cultural association of good luck in China; in Japan it is considered the color of the sun (powerful). The hat almost always stays with Luffy, whether on his head or strapped along his neck, hanging down his back, so it is something that is indicative of his personality, kind of like some tattoos are meant to be for their wearers, or at least that might be a cultural narrative associated with things “very close to you”.

For many of the individuals I’ve heard and groups I can think of, the straw hat is very much limited to the aforementioned, though I will be on the lookout for divergent views.

5. What cultural narratives govern your artifact?

More or less the same answers as above. It can also be said that because a hat is worn on the head, a place of significance and identification for many, it is increasing more important than, say, Luffy’s sandals (but this is an assumption!).

6. What assumptions, stereotypes, habits, social practices, and institutions frame your artifact?

I like this questions; for some reason it gave a  twist to my mind (like you would a lemon to get more juice from it). The institution of entertainment, more specifically, one in the manga creation series. Certainly the creators gave much thought not only to what their straw hat was going to be/mean before it existed, but they probably looked around at the other manga to see what related artifacts they brought to the arena and why.

As for social practices: reading, commentating online, and video commentating online! Exchange of words, but also, when the events come around, cosplay! The habits are very similar I would say, only that cosplay opportunities aren’t often taken seriously until a big comic convention comes around, but when it does and you have peers to come with you, usually it is a habit that everyone in your group is an individual member of the pirate crew, and wear your respective symbols (ohh! This is good, I should compare each individual members’ symbols and their relationship to being all brought under the “Straw Hat” pirate crew name).

Stereotypes of Straw Hat? Most people believe, as a sign that Luffy will become the King of the Pirates, that it is a kind of “Supremacy Symbol”, it represents something that won’t die or die out. I guess one could say it’s like some religious or national symbols that won’t pass even after its members have been persecuted/marginalized (Christian Cross, KKK Confederate Flag). If it ever came to be fallen, it might be comparable to, like, Germany’s Nazi symbols, but I’m stretching it a bit here…

As for assumptions about the straw hat? Same as the stereotypes, but I guess what differs is when people consider the Straw Hat’s past, before it got into the hands of Luffy. The biggest assumptions are that the hat gets passed down from lovers of freedom who have some sort of good will in their hearts, although even this is highly contestable because the pirate twice before Luffy had the straw hat was apparently pretty crazy about “turning the world upside down.” (Gol D. Roger). Another is that all who had the hat probably had a D. in their name.

7. What doctrines or practices affect your artifact? (Or, what doctrines or practices you’re your artifact affect?) Political parties and platforms? Religious? Ideological? Which ones? Are there cultural “rules” and practices? Which?

Doctrines: The actual manga, the TV series, political censorship by states (open right now in most places, I think).

Practices: Reading, viewing, discussing amongst friends, cosplay.

Effect on Culture: definitely ideological, in the sense of demonstrating people that freedom is not simple to obtain; it is fated (what the hate symbolizes, that it is Luffy who will become the next Pirate King, and as Luffy interprets this it means he will be the freest man in the world), that is, there are forces that will try to tilt you towards and against it, and it is reach for, that is, you yourself have some influence to affect what kind of freedom you will obtain, and not just what fate dictates. People wear it to symbolize ideas like this, or even because they would like to recognized for their fondness of the show. People display it in their rooms I’ve seen on videos as a “personality marker” of sorts. It has (like other popular physical things) become a commodity to be bought and sold for the aforementioned purpose, and many other times for cosplay.

8. How does your artifact affect culture? How does culture affect your artifact?

Ahh, accidentally I explained how in my response to #7, which only asked of me to respond to the “what” of cultural artifacts, thought I talked about the “how” too.

Anyhow, I think I’ve some new ideas after playing around with these heuristic strategies, though I’ll likely have to think harder about how to integrate these into my next essay…..

Marketing CDs

 Posted by on Sun, 10/30 at 8:33pm  artifact networks & relationships  No Responses »
Oct 302016
 

Classify your artifact. Classifications are helpful to understanding your artifact. Once you’ve placed your particular artifact in a larger group, you can make connections between your artifact and the general characteristics associated with that group. In addition, sometimes describing your artifact from within a larger, more generalized framework makes it easier to identify important features. Usually, an artifact can classified in various ways and placed in a number of groups.

1. How do you classify your artifact? In what groups can you place your artifact? What connections can you make to other artifacts in the group?

CD’s are the part of the evolution from The Walkman to The Discman in 1984. They are a type of portable music that is still available in today’s technologically advanced mainstream. It started off expensive and then became a common household item that is relatively cheap and now its being pushed out the door but in South Korea, it’s not ready to give up the fight.  It may be a relic in some places but it has become a collectible and piece of art in the K-Pop world.

2. Identify points of similarity between your artifact and others. Then identify points of difference with other artifacts. How is it similar? How is it different?

CDs are used to hold music, just like an iPod or an MP3 player available. It can hold up to 80 minutes of music or 700 MB of music files which limit the amount of music available to you if you’re a music lover. To use it, you would need a CD player, one that is portable or attached to a radio/boom box. To give yourself a range of music to listen to, you would need to carry extra CDs and that would most likely be in a CD case. On the other hand, iPods and MP3 players can carry 16-120 GB of music giving you several days worth of music. They can be arranged in playlists and can be sorted by genre, year, artist, and title. Since all the files would be on the device, you wouldn’t need to carry around extra music in case you feel the need to listen to something differently. Your music would be protected unless you damaged the device unlike a CD which can get scratched and skip over songs. You music device may contain your library of music but it doesn’t incorporate all the items you get when you buy a CD. For one, you get a book that has the lyrics for the song as well as photos of the artists. The book tells you the theme or concept of the album where as on your music device, you just get the picture and if you’re a person who likes to keep their files organized (like me) you would have to spend time looking for the lyrics for your songs to include them.

Create an analogy or metaphor for your artifact. Analogies and metaphors are ways of making connections between your artifact and other artifacts (anything goes… items of clothing, locations, holidays, texts, products, etc.). Be creative here… try to make (il)logical leaps.

3. What metaphors or analogies suit your artifact? (Explain if needed)

CDs are decision traps. You buy them, glad to have the latest songs from your artists, but once you’ve made the content digital, what do you do with them? Do you put it away, never to be seen again? When you see it again, do you throw it away or keep it in storage? Do you put it on display and where will you find the room to? Do you resell it at a cheaper (or expensive) price to someone else?

CDs  are art. We have gotten creative in the way we label things. We stamp CDs with an image that matches the contents and if you put your collection together without the cases, you’d be surprised at how many different pictures and themes you have on your CDs.

CDs as collectibles. CDs are becoming a thing of the past. As we make our files more digital, they become a tangible sign of how things used to be. Just like the record who is making a slight comeback into popularity.

Examine cultural narratives. Cultural narratives are common story lines used throughout culture, telling how things typically happen. Once you identify cultural narratives that apply to your artifact, you can examine them for assumptions and stereotypes. For example, stereotypes (or rigid, generalized ideas about the character and behavior of people with certain identities) are a kind of assumption (or set of assumptions). As with cultural narratives, you may think you are not affected by these assumptions and stereotypes. However, their pervasive presence in the culture means that everyone is affected by them. Naming these assumptions stereotypes can aid you when describing the impact of culture and values on your particular artifact (or your artifact’s impact on culture and values).

The assumptions operating in cultural narratives found in movie plots and song lyrics also get played out in social practices and social institutions. Social practices are shared, habitual ways of doing things. A variety of guidelines exist for the social practice of dating, for instance: who will initiate the date, who will decide where to go, who will pay. Social institutions are larger, more formalized organization the direct our shared social structures. Questions to explore (pick and choose):

4. How is your artifact characterized? (How do people/media/groups characterize it?)

Some people view it as thing of the past. When Apple came out with the iPod, some felt the CD was an unnecessary to have for music. Others see it as a way to sell their collectibles of rare and out-of-print music to those who still buy CDs. Many international fans of K-Pop and J-Pop (Japanese pop) see it as a way to bring the music to them. In the early days of the Hallyu wave, the music was only available to international fans via CDs. Now that iTunes have started adding international artists from around the world, the CDs sales may start to decline, but the fans will most likely still continue to buy them. Especially when the music company offers signed albums or a chance for a meet and greet with the artist when they sell them.

5. What cultural narratives govern your artifact?

When CDs first came out if gave everyone the freedom to lighter way to carry their music around. It became popular, so when you used one, you were part of the tech savvy people. Now it can be said that you’re not up-to-date. That you’re stuck in the past. It can also mark you as a supporter of K-Pop. If you have the latest album, you’re offering your artist support.

6. What assumptions, stereotypes, habits, social practices, and institutions frame your artifact?

K-Pop fans are seen as fans who would buy everything related to their artists. From either buying all the artists’ albums or all the different versions of the same album to help boost the artists’ sales. If you have the songs but not the album, you most likely downloaded it from somewhere and didn’t pay for it.

7. What doctrines or practices affect your artifact? (Or, what doctrines or practices you’re your artifact affect?) Political parties and platforms? Religious? Ideological? Which ones? Are there cultural “rules” and practices? Which?

When going to events to support their artist, they must have the latest album and be able to show it to gain entrance to TV recordings or fan events. If not then it comes down, to a copy of their receipt for a digital purchase. If the group is new, then any album purchase is just about okay for admittance but eventually, the new album will be required as they gain more popularity. The artists’ success on the music shows may also depend on the sales of their album and fans can show their support by buying it.

8. How does your artifact affect culture? How does culture affect your artifact?

CDs affected the music scene in offering a way to carry around albums from artists in a lighter form. It also became a way to promote the artists’ music since it was easier to write a CD than to write on a cassette tape. With the different ways we have developed to create a cover on CDs, we have even changed how they look. South Koreans took CDs in a different marketing direction than America by using it to include more than just the CD and book. They’ve used the book to showcase themes/concepts and lyrics and hold a trading card (a photo of one of the artist(s)) as well as promote their own digital music sites. They have also created different versions of the same CD as well as repackaged older songs.

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