What is an example of an "artifact of consumerism"?

Hello lisa77-ga,

I?ve collected several websites and articles for you to help you with
defining what are ?artifacts and consumerism? and how you can
recognize them for yourself.

Enjoy!

~ czh ~


http://www.learnnc.org/bestweb/analysisartifactSI
Artifact & Analysis: A Teacher's Guide to Interpreting Objects and Writing History

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/idealabs/ap/index.htm
Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies

This site presents a strategy for incorporating historical artifacts
and documents into the teaching of U.S. history. Designed as a
companion to the Advanced Placement Program U.S. History course, it is
also effective in any instructional setting that emphasizes analytical
thinking and writing.

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/idealabs/ap/artifacts/index.htm
Artifacts & Documents

Consumerism 
Consumerism pertains to the marketing and purchasing of products and
is an important facet of American culture in the twentieth century. In
this section you can examine consumer objects from the Smithsonian
Institution's National Museum of American History. These artifacts are
joined with primary sources that offer a context for students to
pursue further inquiry. We have chosen to focus on consumerism during
the period of 1920 to 1970.

 -- Furnace Salesman's Kit
 -- Fiestaware
 -- Pennants
 -- Barbie Doll
 -- Jeans
 -- Lunchboxes

***** This is a wonderful site that will help you explore the concepts
of consumerism and its associated artifacts. Be sure to check out the
writing assignments, teaching guide and essays as well as the
artifacts and their associated documents.

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http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/topics/culture/sale.php
Kids for Sale
Corporate Consumerism and Its Primary Target

The Merchants of Cool is an intriguing, hard-hitting, and ultimately
deeply disturbing PBS documentary about how corporate America is going
after the largest and most lucrative generation of teens in history.

***** This is an interesting article about teen culture and consumer artifacts.

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http://www.reason.com/0203/fe.cf.in.shtml
In Praise of Vulgarity
How commercial culture liberates Islam -- and the West

***** This is a long essay about the influence of Western consumer
artifacts as political symbols.



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artifacts of consumerism
?artifacts of consumerism?

Thanks for all the info.  Helped immensely and it was quick.

To me, the phrase "artifact of consumerism" suggests something that is
entirely useless and unnecessary, for which a demand has been created.
Something like clothing for pets, or brassieres for prepubescent
girls.

Or a long list of ineffective health and cosmetic items.

Here's an interesting college seminar that address this topic. The
class projects are especially pertinent and fun.

http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hist100.96/
How We Got The Gap: Consumer Culture in Historical Perspective

http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hist100.96/coursedescription.html
Course Description 

The aim of this course is to encourage students to de-naturalize this
culture they know so well by directing their attention through writing
upon the artifacts of consumerism -- both the material objects
themselves and the language of advertising which helps give those
goods meaning.

http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/hist100.96/projects.html
Visit the Class Photo Projects