Different Forms of Artifacts - Essay Example

An artifact refers to a material or an object that represents historical or cultural history. Different generations and communities have varied artifacts and materials that identify with their lives and activities. Different fields of studies have different materials and objects that they draw and make references from. Just like other fields of studies, the field of Fashion and Communication also has its own artifacts to draw and make varied conclusions from(Allison, 53). Nebraska hat is a very important artifact that can be associated with the Nebraska state. Tomany it is a form of an identity that will always be associated with the people of the state of Nebraska. It is a state that is found in the United States of America (Babcock, 82).The making of hats is a very tedious and involving process. Different materials and equipment are normally used in the process. For example the manufacture of Nebraska hat normally involves the use of; Thimble; the use of thimble has been there since long time now. Its use is varied depending on the required end product that is desired. Thimble is a small cup like object that is always put on the finger and it is used to push the needle during the sewing process. Thread is also used in the making of the hats. The main size used is thirty six inches and different colors are normally used depending on the tastes which are the required for the intended market (Dillmann, 311). A good quality sateen tape measure is also used. This is mainly used to do the measurements of materials and the length that may fit the desired hat. Different sizes of pins are also used during the process of making the hat. The pins are used to hold the threads and other materials in place during the manufacture process. Pins are also used to at the end of the process for beatification. The process of hat making cannot go without mentioning the tailor’s chalk and pencil. These are normally used to make marks and points in the pieces of clothes that are to be used inthe process of making the hat. The process also involves an extensive use milliner’s pliers or wire cutters which aremainly used to cut the threads and also to join the other materials together. This is used mainly in the process that involves a lot of force and hard objects.Scissors are also highly used in the process of hat making. Their use is mainly concerned with the cutting of the materials and also shaping them into different sizes depending on the size and shape that is needed. The scissors can be of different sizes which are either small or large depending on the nature of the material of clothes to be cut. Papers are also used in the process. These are mainly used to first sketch the pattern that is needed. Needle is used in the process of sewing and therefore forms an important part of equipment that is used. It is used to make the stiches and join the different materials used in the making process. Different fabric materials are also being used. For example Buckram. This is always found in white and black and always measures twenty seven inches by length. Buckram is always a heavy and stiff sustenance which is smooth on one side and rough on the other side. Although the heavy one is the most preferred buckram, there is also lighter summer buckram which is smooth on both sides. Its use is not such much extensive as the harder buckram. Crinolines are also used in the manufacture of hats. These are always black and white materials that measure twenty seven inches. They are however smooth on both sides. They are always thin and stiff and open ended are used to cover wire frames and in bias stripes to cover edge after it is sewed on the fabric frame. Fly net, which is an open meshed material and also comes in black and white, is also used in manufacture of hats. It is used for blocking frames and copying the lines which are much softer than when made with buckram. There is also the cape net, a very light weight and open meshed material that is used for blocking and for soft frames. Willow plate is also used in the manufacture of hats. Willow plate is a coarse straw like material, light weight, brittle and very expensive that is normally used in blocking (Rafael, 73). Cables too, provide very important materials for the manufacture of hats.Cables are mainly in millinery. In making wire frames, cables are used as edge wires and sometimes for entire frame. Being larger than frames wire, it makes a pleasing effect when used as part of the wire frame design if it is to be covered with sheer material. Lace, which is smaller than frame , is normally used for wiring lace ribbon and flowers and sometimes for making the whole frame when a very a dainty design is desired . The Nebraska hat was made in NebraskaState that lies in both the Great Plains of the United States. The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln. The Nebraska hat traces its origin in the 1989-91 during the formation of the Nebraska football club. It is out of the need for strong identification that the name was formed in order to give members an identity (Miller, 41). Although the process of making the Nebraska hat has not changed so much, the process of how it was first made can be traced to some extent. When it was made, one had to place a mould on top of a piece of wood which resembled an old drawer. This mould would then be covered with some cling film. One would then cut six pieces of signamy where three would be used in the brim and the other three would be used in the crown. A hole would then be cut in the middle of the brim which is one inch smaller than the crown block. The signamy is then soaked in hot water to soften it. The brim is then blocked on one layer and second layer shifted to make it sturdier. The signamy is then pinned down to the wood using the pin. The three pieces of the crown are draped together over the mould layering at a time and shifting the second layer at 45 degree. The cling film is then cut and signamy removed from the mould. The crown is placed on the brim and stitched together with the thread showing on the outside of the hat. Each and every one of us has a form of culture and a strong historical background that we will always want to be identified with. Just like other artifacts, the Nebraska hat was mainly made in order to give a sense of belonging to the people of the Nebraska Football club apart from just the sense of identification of the NebraskaState (Mooney, 111). The Nebraska hat has gone under a lot of modifications. These mainly involve the process of the manufacture and also the materials that are used. In as much as they want to maintain their quality and the initial intention, the Nebraska hat is not the same as it was first made. The first noticeable modification is the design and the shape of the hat. The current designs are designed in such manners to ensure that they meet the current market expectations and also the level of the competition from other manufacturers. Other notable change is the material that is used in the manufacture. Initially, lot fabric materials were used. But currently, the Nebraska hat is used using a lot of artificial materials and also the process of the manufacture has so much been sophisticated as it currently involves a lot of sophisticated machines and processes. Nebraska being a state with considerable population and identity, the Nebraska hat has made it quite easy for them to be unified along the political line. This is because people have a sense of belonging and therefore they are always united. During games and other international competitions, the Nebraska hat has always remained on the frontline and has often led to unity and hence drew a lot of support from spectators. This has often lead to great achievements to the Nebraska football team (Vemaas, 93). From the above foregoing, it is very important for one to conclude that artifacts are very good sources information because ineveryday, people are judged by the type of clothes they wear, and how they choose to represent themselves in the various different functions that they attend. There are different forms of artifacts in different communities that would wish they are identified with. Different communities will therefore choose to do things in the same way and even to personalize the forms of the artifacts that they would want to preserve in that of their culture (Kroes, 11). Work Cited Allason-Jones, Lindsay. Artefacts in Roman Britain: Their Purpose and Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print Babcock, Mike. The Nebraska Football Legacy. Louisville, KY: Published for the Nebraska Bookstore by AdCraft, 1995. Prin Boyles, Bob, and Paul Guido. Fifty Years of College Football: A Modern History of Americas Most Colorful Sport. New York: Skyhorse Pub, 2007. Print Dillmann, P. Corrosion of Metallic Heritage Artefacts: Investigation, Conservation and Prediction of Long Term Behaviour. Cambridge: Woodhead Pub, 2007. Print Kroes, Peter. Technical Artefacts: Creations of Mind and Matter : a Philosophy of Engineering Design. Dordrecht: Springer, 2012. Internet resource Miller, Daniel. ArtefactsAs Categories: A Study of Ceramic Variability in Central India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985. Print. Mooney, Carla. Nebraska Football. , 2014. Internet resource Vermaas, Pieter E. A Philosophy of Technology: From Technical Artefacts to Sociotechnical Systems. San Rafael, Calif.: Morgan & Claypool Publishers, 2011. Print Read More