A cultural artifact, or cultural artefact (see American and British English spelling differences), is a term used in the social sciences, particularly anthropology,ethnology and sociology[citation needed] for anything created by humans which gives information about the culture of its creator and users. Artifact is the spelling in North American English; artefact is usually preferred elsewhere.
Cultural artifact is a more generic term and should be considered with two words of similar, but narrower, nuance: it can include objects recovered from archaeological sites, i.e. archaeological artifacts, but can also include objects of modern or early-modern society, or social artifacts. For example, in an anthropological context: a 17th-century lathe, a piece of faience, or a television each provides a wealth of information about the time in which they were manufactured and used.
Cultural artifacts, whether ancient or current, have a significance because they offer an insight into: technological processes, economic development and social structure, among other attributes.
Classification
The philosopher Marx W. Wartofsky categorized artifacts as follows:
- primary artifacts: used in production (such as a hammer, a fork, a lamp or a camera);
- secondary artifacts: relating to primary artifacts (such as a user-manual for a camera);
- tertiary artifacts: representations of secondary artifacts (such as a picture of a user-manual for a camera).
Social artifacts, unlike archaeological artifacts, do not need to have a physical form (for example virtual artifact), nor to be of historical value (items created seconds ago can be classified as social artifacts).
References
- Richard J. Watts (1981). The pragmalinguistic analysis of narrative texts. Gunter Narr Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87808-443-3.
- Rob Amery. Warrabarna Kaurna!.
- "artefact/artifact". OED.com. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- Wartofsky, Marx W. (1979). Models: Representation and scientific understanding. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Reidel.
Further reading
- Habib, Laurence, and Line Wittek (2007). The portfolio as artifact and actor. Mind, Culture and Activity, Vol. 14, No. 4, ISSN 1074-9039.
External links
- Hilpinen, Risto. "Artifact". In Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
A cultural artifact or cultural artefact see American and British English spelling differences is a term used in the social sciences particularly anthropology ethnology and sociology citation needed for anything created by humans which gives information about the culture of its creator and users Artifact is the spelling in North American English artefact is usually preferred elsewhere Nikon D200 Digital Camera Cultural artifact is a more generic term and should be considered with two words of similar but narrower nuance it can include objects recovered from archaeological sites i e archaeological artifacts but can also include objects of modern or early modern society or social artifacts For example in an anthropological context a 17th century lathe a piece of faience or a television each provides a wealth of information about the time in which they were manufactured and used Cultural artifacts whether ancient or current have a significance because they offer an insight into technological processes economic development and social structure among other attributes ClassificationThe philosopher Marx W Wartofsky categorized artifacts as follows primary artifacts used in production such as a hammer a fork a lamp or a camera secondary artifacts relating to primary artifacts such as a user manual for a camera tertiary artifacts representations of secondary artifacts such as a picture of a user manual for a camera Social artifacts unlike archaeological artifacts do not need to have a physical form for example virtual artifact nor to be of historical value items created seconds ago can be classified as social artifacts ReferencesRichard J Watts 1981 The pragmalinguistic analysis of narrative texts Gunter Narr Verlag ISBN 978 3 87808 443 3 Rob Amery Warrabarna Kaurna artefact artifact OED com Retrieved 2 October 2024 Wartofsky Marx W 1979 Models Representation and scientific understanding Dordrecht The Netherlands Reidel Further readingHabib Laurence and Line Wittek 2007 The portfolio as artifact and actor Mind Culture and Activity Vol 14 No 4 ISSN 1074 9039 External linksHilpinen Risto Artifact In Zalta Edward N ed Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
