The Statue of Liberty is the most famous US monument and symbol of the country. However, before reading the articles in the learning block, I did not know the true intent of this structure. Like many citizens, I was convinced that the Black Woman was the prototype of the Statue. However, upon learning more about Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi and his Egyptian and Arabic background, my perception changed but not dramatically. The most interesting thing in this respect is the extent to which the sculptor was passionate about his work and aspired to implement it. Although the original concept was created for the Suez Canal, he was ready to rework the entire concept to bring the statue to life. I do not think that the original idea of the author in any way affects the meaning of this object. In my opinion, the Statue of Liberty is a symbol and carries the meaning that people have endowed it with.
The artifact which I chose for studying for Project 1 is the Haitian flag. The question is: Which features of Haiti does it represent? To answer this question, one can turn to symbolic analysis, as well as analysis of the history of Haiti, to determine the values and key characteristics of the local people. Thrasybule (2021) claims that symbols of the Haitian flag “carry several important messages about the order, discipline, unity, self-control, strength, opportunities for commerce, economic development, stability, wisdom, and health” (p. 1). Thus, considering the symbols presented on the flag, and comparing them with aspects of Haitian history, one can determine their true meaning and value for residents. Thus, the flag can be used to understand which aspects are most significant to Haitians and how they represent them in their symbolism.
Reference
Thrasybule, M. M. (2021). Elements in color: A symbolistic approach to analyzing the Haitian flag. Journal of Language and Culture, 12(1), 1-12. Web.