The Importance of Artifact - Assignment Example

The Importance of Artifact Introduction Games are crucial activities that any society enjoys and identifies themselves with. Gaming has a long history, since some are passed from every generation making them difficult to face out and some are developed as per the needs of the society and creativity. Similarly, different communities or societies have developed games, which they use in identifying themselves as well as in socializing their young ones. In many cases, games bring people together, more so, those who share certain values, as well as the strangers or visitors. Because of this, some cultures identifies with certain games. For instance, Lithuanian has a game called Blind Chicken and it identifies itself with it in all corners of the world (Kawan 297). Their cultural practices are pegged on this game, and they find much inspiration from it. For this reason, this paper will analyze "Blind Chicken" as a cultural artifact of the Lithuanians society. Overview of the artifact This artifact is very important for this discussion because of its role in the Lithuanian society and it is very common with children. It is a fun playing this game; hence people from this culture appreciate it in whatever circumstance. Similarly, it represents the values of this culture and helps the children during physical and emotional development (Nashleanas 630). For this reason, its characteristics made it worth discussing as an artifact in this society. The Blind Chicken is an outdoor or indoor game played by children, in a safe and free place away from obstacles that might cause them injury. The game is played by children of age 4 to 9 though other age groups can also play and enjoy, and it comprises of a group of 3 to 12 players. It is played through blindfolding one player with a piece of cloth and then he or she is expected to find the rest of players within a certain boundary. The blindfolded player becomes the Blind Chicken, who looks after others. The blindfolded individual is expected to walk or run around, capture and identify one or more of the players. Accurate identity relieves the Blind Chicken, and the captured players take the role (Kawan 298). The Blind Chicken game has a long history since it began a long time ago in Europe before industrialization. It began in Eastern Europe among the Lithuanian communities who were poor and did not have toys to play with like other people. This community was destitute and their children used toys made of sisal, clothes, and wood, borne among others (Nashleanas 634). They also used their creativity to innovate games as well as plays that could keep them moving since they were unable to afford modern toys, or they were nearly available for them. For this reason, children were in need of playing as well as engaging in social activities during the winter nights (Nashleanas 635). Because of this eagerness, these children adopted this game to enable them enjoy the winter nights. Hence, Blind Chicken originated from Eastern Europe among the Lithuanian’s people before spreading to the rest of the world as seen today. Uses Blind Chicken is a game embraced by children from the Lithuanian community, and it forms part of their cultural artifact. This is because of its role in improving the social and physical development of the children in this community (Narušytė 134). Similarly, it served different purposes in the society, making children and parents to embrace it and consider it as a community game. First, the Lithuanian community welcomed Blind Chicken game because it encouraged participation among children, especially when playing (Narušytė 134). This was achieved by facilitating children’s movement, caution, and attention as well as bonding with the peers. In any given situation, children enjoy gaming with others, more so if the game is interesting. As a result, this game was meant to make children shift their energy to an enjoyable activity of their choice (Narušytė 134). Similarly, it contributed to their self-development by reinforcing the development of gross motor and fine motor skills (Narušytė 134). Secondly, family is a social institution, which has a responsibility for continuing the society, as well as socializing young ones (Dovydaitytė 95). Hence, they must nurture the children as per the expectation of the society by making them embrace the societal values and rules and well as good relation. However, communities developed games such as Blind Chicken to help the families in their roles by molding children to obey the rules and abide by the code of conduct (Dovydaitytė 95). Because of this, the game is important in this community because it helps them in developing social skills through obeying rules, interacting with others, taking turns and stimulating their memory (Dovydaitytė 95). Additionally, the society used this game to encourage children who were shy by providing them with the opportunity to be stars and the center of attention when playing this game (Kawan 299). Lastly, this society believed that the interaction with members was critical in enhancing one’s understanding of others, as well as the environment. Similarly, interaction when playing was important for children because they learned languages and developed new skills (Antuchevičienė, Zenonas and Edmunda 263). Hence, this society encourages children to participate in this game as it made them learn new things that they did not know as well as ways to survive in certain situations. In addition, the Blind Chicken helped the society in social-cultural development since this game was to be passed from each generation hence acted as a transition to other stages (Antuchevičienė, Zenonas and Edmunda265). All members of the society played this game at their childhood and to some point, hence acted as a childhood game that the society identified its members with. Meaning Blind Chicken is meaningful to this society because they identify themselves and associates with it to some extent. Any community has features or artifacts, which gives them identity and differentiates it from the rest. Blind Chicken has its origin from Eastern Europe among the Lithuanian society, and this gives them recognition. When one talks about this artifact, he or she refers to Lithuanian, and this helps in putting the place on the global map for visitors. The recognition is important because it helps in understanding the history of this region as well as how the artifacts came into being (Nashleanas 639). Similarly, this artifact is meaningful because it assisted this community in bringing the children together and doing one thing in common. Different cultures assign different meanings to artifacts as well as activities; this is one of the artifacts assigned the meaning of bringing people together, more so, children when playing. This makes the community perceive it as an important meeting point for children since they come to share and enjoy themselves together. In addition, it is a unifying artifact since it encompasses a communal activity and requires a collective action (Lithuania Or Bust 34). It is not a game one or two people play, but groups, hence it creates solidarity among the participants. Lastly, this artifact has a meaning by helping the society learn their history as they reflect at the traditional practices or games compared with contemporary ones (Lithuania Or Bust 34). Any culture has a rich history that they embrace and do not want to disappear, and it is very important in teaching generations know their history. Blind Chicken is a representation of the rich history that this society has, and it differentiates with other communities such as those in Western Europe who was not creative enough to develop traditional games. Through this artifact, the society defines its roots and long journey to civilization since they are no longer used today, but other sophisticated games because of industrialization (Lithuania Or Bust 34). Hence, it offers an opportunity for a reflection of this community on the journey to modernity, making it play a vital role in their culture. Values Social values are accepted ethical behaviors and standards that people in a society are expected to adhere with and help in creating a boundary. Evert society has its values and ethics, which defines and limits an individual’s conduct in any given situation. In this case, Blind Chicken is an artifact that has some values because members of the society accept it as a standard and as a good practice. For this reason, the community that coined as well as those that embraced Blind Chicken through the process of diffusion recognizes it. Nobody is punished when he or she played this game, but embraced for practicing a value that helps in bringing solidarity in the community. People also find reprieve from the pressure when they play this game making it have a very important societal value in this community. Conclusion Blind Chicken is a cultural artifact among the Lithuanians living in Eastern Europe. The artifact has a long history since it came into existence before industrialization, as there was a need to find activities to keep children busy during the winter. Blind Chicken played an important role in this community because it enhanced solidarity among children playing and instilled certain skills such as communication and interpersonal development. It also gives the society an identity since this is where it originated in other parts of the world. Similarly, it portrays different values, which this society has accepted and assigned every member. Works Cited Antuchevičienė, Jurgita, Zenonas Turskis, and Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas. "Modelling Renewal Of Construction Objects Applying Methods Of The Game Theory." Technological & Economic Development Of Economy 12.4 (2006): 263-268 Dovydaitytė, Linara. "Art History And Postcolonialism: A Lithuanian Case." Kunstiteaduslikke Uurimusi 21.3/4 (2012): 94-105 Kawan, Christine Shojaei. "Perspectives On Contemporary Legend." Fabula 55.3/4 (2014): 297- 300 Lithuania Or Bust." New Yorker 90.1 (2014): 34-1 Narušytė, Agnė. "Contemporary Lithuanian Photography: The Discourse Of Memory." Kunstiteaduslikke Uurimusi 21.3/4 (2012): 134-16 Nashleanas, Katherine. "Metageographic Communities: A Geographic Model Of Demassified Societies." Annals Of The Association Of American Geographers 101.3 (2011): 625-649 Read More