Modern Times

Anthropology 21A-334

Revised Artifact Project: Just the Facts.
Modern Times

Artifact Project

Interview Project

Anthropology of Truths

    		 Here is a recommended guide to assembling this project.
    • A detailed paragraph describing the artifact. How much information can you pack into a paragraph?
    • Where was it produced?
      1. How many components? What kinds? Who produced them, where?
      2. With what machines and processes?
      3. How many companies are involved?
      4. What kinds of agreements do they have?
      5. Countries? Labor?
    • Distribution
      1. What is between production and final point of consumption (you)?
      2. Means of transportation, distribution, oversight, inventory?
      3. Companies, labor?
      4. International distribution?
    • Regulations, patents, etc.
      1. Regs on production?
      2. Regs on sales and distribution?
      3. Who oversees this artifact? (and go beyond/inside of the FCC, FDA, FTC)
      4. Standards? How decided? How measured? How do consumers find out?
    • Marketing, How is it a commodity?
      1. Who is it marketed to? (everyone? Targeted to certain groups? Countries?)
      2. By whom? (companies involved in marketing?)
      3. How else is the artifact discovered? (what/who else functions to get the artifact to you and others like you?)
    • Consumption (not a big section, okay)
      1. How does the company keep making a profit?
      2. How are you kept buying the product, or ones like it?
      3. How are your values, identity, way of life supporting it?
    • Political Economy (Support)
      1. Who is supported by supporting you directly?
      2. What professionals/experts depend on this product for their jobs?
      3. How large are these supporting industries?
      4. What other parasitic industries depend in part on this artifact?
    • History
      1. What different inventors of it are there?
      2. How international is its invention?
      3. What industry is it a part of? What is its history within that industry?

    You will probably want to do a little research. Some librarians and information experts are into this kind of research. Make it interesting: speculate on the above questions and allow your curiosity to guide you. And keep a record of your search strategies.

    Feel free to add questions. And please proofread your analysis before handing it in (or trade and have someone else do it).
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