Capella University
HUM_FPX 1150
Professor Name
November 2024
Cultural Artifact Analysis
A cultural artifact is made up of people in a given culture at a specific time to pass down the culture’s beliefs and values. These artifacts provide insight into how they had to express themselves and their thoughts, how they were responding to their social world, and how they may have processed the experiences of a community. Thus, through cultural artifacts, one can identify context, creativeness, and possible values contemporary to such artifacts. This analysis seeks to attempt an understanding of the relevance and meaning of a particular artifact in light of the beliefs of the culture in which it was made and the messages that it bears to this day.
Reactions to the Artifact
When one listens to “Imagine”, their first impression will be something very straightforward, and beautiful in its simplicity; words set to a simple rhythm and tune could strike a cord. As for artistic practices, one can mention tender piano backing, Lennon’s unobtrusive intoning, and the smooth, eternal record’s construction. As it was produced in the early 1970s, being the time of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights movements, “Imagine” has a haunting message of peace. The plurality of simple accompaniment and tune is used to provide the song with general and easily affecting listeners’ element. The lyrics involve everyone in the hope of a world that is supposed to be better and this optimizes and makes one emotional.
Historical and Artistic Contexts of the Artifact
Imagine was produced during an era when there was political instability, wars, and effective change happening in society. The 1960s up to the early 1970s of the twentieth century were much influenced by what became known as the counterculture revolution where people started rebelling against the offices of authority, and advocated for dumping of war, and equal rights for all human beings. Lennon who was already a popular public figure by then due to his activism in the peace movement used the ‘Imagine’ song to paint an imaginary world he figured people wanted. From a stylistic point of view, one can identify the latter with the Repentance for simplicity and honesty in comparison with the art of the late 1960s. Lennon was right concentrating on the piano and the lyrics; this made him make the song a symbol of hope for everybody.
Interpretation of the Artifact’s Meaning
This song specifically calls people to sit and imagine a world of no division of religion, country, or materialism and embrace the concept of peace. But in particular, it calls into question the society that people are living in and questions all the relationships fought for. From the historical and artistic perspective, it is possible to decode “Imagine” not only as the answer to the conflicts and divisions raging around the globe at the time. Lennon had a dream, it was progressive and optimistic at the same time, therefore his vision was quite simple – change is possible when people learn to accept one another. Therefore the song’s message is not only about the longing for the absence of war but longing for a world based on love, justice, and compassion.
Cultural Values Conveyed Through the Artifact
All of the values described in “Imagine” – peace, unity, and equality – are mostly relevant and familiar with the modern outlook. The communal call to unite, which forms the essence of the song, ties into calls for people’s rights and world peace organizations. First, “Imagine” an appeal to values that I hold the main goal of which is fraternal nationality that implies people’s opinions and different interactions in life despite the differences in a single world; this is a good concept however, for one, I have my issue believing in the no possessions part of this song given the modern society. The artifact’s perspective challenges the audience to reconsider their own opinions and makes people think about what cultural ideas are closer to Lennon’s vision.
HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 1 Conclusion
Cultural artifacts are indeed an important means to revive or get acquainted with the thoughts, attitudes, and creations of past and present civilizations. In so doing, it becomes easier to appreciate the history and culture of the artifacts and the artistic expression decisions that inform them. Artifacts are vital because they not only make us embrace the creative and believed minds of those ancient cultures but also embrace their effect on today’s culture. At last, culture means objects that can mediate people and their generations, and provide people with wisdom they can discuss during their whole history.
HUM FPX 1150 Assessment 1 References
Museum of American History. (2022). Music as a Cultural Artifact: How Songs Reflect Society and Inspire Change. Smithsonian Institution. https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/music-of-note?utm_source=SEM&utm_medium=OA&utm_content=Google_Performance_Max&utm_campaign=CAP25Q1&promo=276817&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlsy5BhDeARIsABRc6Zsx_enxNeuhRPBuhXYYtsbNeIphFzXvWItmdcBza1Hvs_hQdzEtk30aAoP3EALw_wcB
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (n.d.). The Social Impact of “Imagine” by John Lennon. Retrieved from https://rockhall.com/inductees/band/?gad_source=1
