choose and analyze a cultural artifact, broadly conceived(novel, film, landscape, specific technology, architecture, advertisement, corporation, commodity, piece of music, etc.)

In your final research paper, you will choose and analyze a cultural artifact, broadly conceived. Your artifact could be a novel, film, landscape, specific technology, architecture, advertisement, corporation, commodity, piece of music, etc. Be creative and choose something that interests you. The paper should then develop a thesis that analyzes the significance of your artifact in its historical context using course material and a chosen keyword to guide you, as well as other secondary and primary source research. This paper is a good chance for you to use your artifact to think through the notion of the American Century, as well as the relation of the US to the 20th century world. These specific themes are not required, however, since you may choose to consider other developments and themes that we have explored in our lectures and readings.