The civic artifact

The assignment Analysis of Civic Engagement Artifact Select an artifact that frames the civic in a rhetorically compelling way. It could be anything from a corporate advertisement to a notice about an event or involvement opportunity happening on campus. This artifact could be contemporary or historic. Then, plan a three- to four-minute speech about the artifact based on RCL course material and discussions. After a brief introduction of the artifact, aided by images or video (no more than 30 seconds), you will want to draw upon course concepts to explain how the event or opportunity in question can be seen as civic and what ideologies and/or civic commonplaces are contained within or assumed by the artifact. Your speech might also explain how context and the rhetorical situation inform the piece’s message and how the artifact is framing the very idea of civic engagement.

What is this thing called “Civic artifact?” Your best guess, please, before I give you mine.

Here goes: A civic artifact is a human-made relic/phenomenon that frames the civic in a rhetorically compelling way.

“A human-made relic/phenomenon” Sounds like this: But could also be this:

“A human-made relic/phenomenon” Or this… Or this…

“A human-made relic/phenomenon” Or this… Or this…

“A human-made relic/phenomenon” Or this… Or this…

“A human-made relic/phenomenon” Or this… Or this…

“A human-made relic/phenomenon” Or this… Or this…

“A human-made relic/phenomenon” Or this… Or this…

And again… A civic artifact is a human-made relic/phenomenon that frames the civic in a rhetorically compelling way.

“Frames the civic” (more Schudson) “How do we come to understand or accept or take for granted what counts as civic?”

What counts as civic? “…a particular sense of the public good” “willingness to participate in (public) advancement” “a part of everyday life”

Ideologies Sets of beliefs, ideas, ways of thinking that distinguish a culture/group. For example: A liberal believes (most likely): that capital punishment should be abolished, a woman should have the right to legal abortion, In a market system in which government regulates the economy.

Commonplaces Ideas that are commonly held. Ideas/beliefs about things that we just take for granted. For example: Thanksgiving is about being thankful, spending time with family, and football

Questions to ask of a civic artifact WHO… “made” the artifact? consumes (consumed) the artifact? who benefits from the artifact? who modified the artifact?

Questions to ask of a civic artifact Why/how is/was the artifact necessary? What is/was the artifact responding to? Has the need for the artifact changed over time?

Questions to ask of a civic artifact Does the artifact have different meanings for different people? What commonplaces are “embedded” in the artifact? Or how does the artifact comment on commonplaces? Were/are any commonplaces/ideologies challenged in the creation of the artifact?

The end.

What meanings are “embedded within it? What is this thing? What does it symbolize? What meanings are “embedded within it?

Have you seen one of these? Have you used one? How has its meaning changed over time?