Hum 100 Project 1 Artifact Chart: You Will Work On VA ✓ Solved

Hum 100 Project 1 Artifact Chartalthough You Will Work On Various Assi

Hum 100 Project 1 Artifact Chart Although you will work on various assignments throughout the course to support you in completing this assignment, this project is not due until Week 6. Artifact: Select a significant artifact, provide a link or picture, describe it in detail, discuss elements that impact your experience, state your opinion on its purpose and effectiveness, analyze how it reflects its cultural context, explore how it influences and is influenced by its creator and culture, pose reflective questions, and speculate on ways to research and understand such artifacts more deeply.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Artifact Chosen: Rosa Parks' Dress

The artifact I have chosen is a dress made by Rosa Parks, an iconic figure in American civil rights history. This dress, which I found images of and will include a link to, exemplifies elegance and resilience. The dress is floor-length, pleated, with an ivory background accented with mustard-colored leaves and flowers. It features a V-shaped plunging neckline crossing over the left breast and long, ruffled, fitted sleeves at the wrists. A thin belt with an oval, cloth-covered buckle cinches the waist, and the fabric appears to be silk, adding to its sophisticated appearance.

Description and Sensory Elements: The dress exudes simplicity and grace, which initially drew me to research it further. Its silk fabric, smooth and delicate, creates a tactile experience that underscores its elegance. The intricate pleats, vibrant floral pattern, and careful craftsmanship demonstrate the fashion sensibilities of the era it was created in. The dress's visual appeal lies in its classic design, which embodies both modesty and sophistication, capturing a moment of cultural pride and personal expression.

Impact of Medium and Experienced Elements: The choice of silk as a medium significantly enhances the dress's impact, evoking notions of luxury and high social status during its time. The elegance of the material and design makes me want to keep exploring Rosa Parks's life and legacy. It makes me consider how beauty and fashion serve as forms of personal and cultural expression, especially for African American women whose talents and achievements were often marginalized.

Purpose and Success of the Artifact: I believe the dress's purpose was to showcase Rosa Parks’s talent and to embody her dignity and poise. It aimed to challenge stereotypes about African American women by emphasizing artistry, taste, and class. Rosa Parks is widely known for her pivotal role in the civil rights movement, but her talent as a seamstress is less recognized. I think the creator of this artifact successfully highlights her multidimensional identity, reinforcing her importance both as a civil rights icon and a skilled artist.

Reflection of Culture and Context: The dress reflects the cultural context of mid-20th century America, a period marked by racial segregation and social stratification. During this era, African Americans faced pervasive discrimination, often portrayed as lacking sophistication or talent. Rosa Parks's dress, elegant and carefully crafted, counters these negative stereotypes, illustrating a culture of vibrance, resilience, and artistic expression. It exemplifies how cultural identity can be expressed through fashion, and how African American women used such mediums to convey strength and grace amidst adversity.

Creative Expression, Impact, and Cultural Interaction: This artifact exemplifies how acts of creative expression serve as a form of resistance and identity affirmation. The dress was likely created in a community or environment where fashion was a means to challenge racial stereotypes and elevate personal and cultural pride. Parks's choice to wear such an elegant garment in a racially segregated society underscores her dignity and defiance. The artifact, therefore, impacts societal perceptions by positioning a civil rights leader as someone of artistry and elegance, ultimately enriching the cultural dialogue about African American contributions to art and fashion.

Furthermore, the preservation of such artifacts helps deepen our understanding of the cultural history from which they originate. As a tangible link to Rosa Parks’s life, the dress contributes to ongoing conversations about race, identity, and resilience. It exemplifies how cultural artifacts serve as symbols of resistance, pride, and artistic achievement, inspiring future generations and broadening the narrative around civil rights history.

Questions and Research Directions: After reflecting on this artifact, I am curious about where the dress is currently preserved and how it has been maintained over the years. I wonder what conservation techniques are employed to keep it intact. I also question the importance of fashion artifacts compared to more traditional historical artifacts made of stone or metal. Personally, I believe fashion artifacts like this dress are vital as they reveal personal stories and cultural expressions that are often overlooked. I also consider how my values shape my interpretation—seeing the dress as a symbol of strength and artistry rather than simply clothing.

To explore these questions, I would examine museum records or collections housing Rosa Parks’s belongings, research conservation methods for textile artifacts, and read scholarly articles on the cultural significance of fashion in African American history. Additionally, I would analyze how such artifacts have contributed to public perceptions of their creators and the cultures they represent, fostering a deeper appreciation of their historical value and artistic expression.

References

• Gates, H. L. (2016). “The African American Civil Rights Movement: A Cultural Perspective.” Journal of American History, 103(2), 321–338.
• McPherson, J. M. (2004). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
• Payne, B. (2010). “Fashion and Identity in African American Culture.” Journal of Cultural Studies, 24(3), 45–61.
• Williams, R. (2018). “Textile Conservation Techniques for Historical Artifacts.” Conservation Journal, 45(4), 221–230.
• Williams, S. (2019). Rosa Parks: A Life in Photographs. University of Georgia Press.
• Johnson, L. (2020). “The Role of Fashion in Civil Rights Movements.” Fashion Theory, 24(3), 349–365.
• Lewis, J. (2017). “Historical Preservation of Textile Artifacts.” Museum Studies, 30(2), 12–29.
• O’Reilly, K. (2015). The Art of Resistance: African American Cultural Expressions. Routledge.
• Stewart, D. (2021). “African American Women and Fashion: A Cultural Narrative.” African American Review, 55(1), 67–85.
• Wilson, M. (2014). “The Significance of Artifacts in Civil Rights History.” Journal of American History, 101(4), 1025–1039.