E. M. Flemings Model of Artifact Study and the Work Boot :: Sociology Society Culture

E. M. Flemings Model of Artifact Study and the Work BootThe work boot has become a hot item for many girls and young women. This artifact of appearance may reveal a lot about American culture and society in the 1990s. By applying E. M. Flemings Model of Artifact Study, I will analyze this artifact in an attempt to shed some light on the values, priorities, and ideals of our society. good same(p) Flemings model suggests, this paper will be broken down into four major sections Identification, Evaluation, Cultural Analysis, and Interpretation.IdentificationThe Eastland work boot that I am referring to in this paper is shown below. It was manufactured in Freeport, Maine. Click on the picture for a catalog description from JCPenney.This is a wheat-colored, waterproof, plain-toe (as opposed to steel-toe) boot made for women. The spongelike Nubuck leather feels almost velvety. It has a thick rubber sole which looks like a gum eraser with a complicated traction pattern. The boot seems to b e mark together mainly by stitching and in most places, only whizz row of stitching is used. The only area that looks as if it may project the additional help of glue, is where the sole meets the leather-upper. It is clearly stitched here as well, but the stitches are coated with glue (possibly to help keep these stitches dry). The shoe-strings, which look like yellow and brown cords, are laced through a total of twelve holes (called look) on each boot. There are six eyes lined up vertically on each side of the tongue. In this way, the shoe-strings can be laced in the traditional criss-cross pattern forming five Xs, one above the next, up the front of the boot. These Xs are located in front of the tongue. The ends of each shoe-string are tied in a bow which lies flush against the highest X.At the top of the boot, there is padding built into the collar that wraps around the back of the calf, just above the Achilles tendon. This area doesnt seem to be made simply of leather. Inst ead, it seems as if this cushion is made from a very thin, darker brown, soft leather lining stuffed with foam.Overall, the boot is very light-weight, weighing only 2.8 lbs.Evaluation It is interesting to discriminate this boot, worn for fashion, to the ones worn by construction workers, for durability and foot protection. These real work boots, designed for men, are shown in the picture to the right.