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