Abstract
PowerPoint presentations have become so much a part of our lives that they seem absolutely integral and necessary, and we find it hard to imagine what educational life was like before they surfaced. This paper discusses how, as a popular culture artifact, PowerPoint has both positive and negative connotations and thta the immensity of its presence in modern life teaches us about ourselves. The paper also examines Power Point's explosion of use from schools and professionals to the military as well as the ways in which PowerPoint has negatively impacted society.

From the Paper
"The ideology that has developed in popular culture surrounding this artifact is that anybody can use PowerPoint to present any subject, no matter how complex, to others who know little or nothing about it, in a manner that seems thorough and easily understood. Although PowerPoint can be an effective aid in presenting relatively simple concepts, it can also be used to over simplify complex topics by reducing them to condensed bulleted points. Such presentations offer information that is insufficient in communicating adequate knowledge. Decision making can be harmed through under informed authorities who believe they are knowledgeable. "

Tags:presentations, contemporary, society, modern, life, communication

Abstract
The paper asserts that the compact disc case is an interesting cultural artifact because it is so flawed. The paper describes how the traditional jewel case has arms on the outside case connecting the pivot to the body of the case that contains the disc and the disc tray, and asserts that everyone knows how delicate these arms are, how often they break, and have a loose recollection of the other forms of compact disc packaging that have worked better. This paper is about the cultural associations we have in compact disc packaging, and how the frail jewel case has remained the standard packaging in spite of almost every other packaging method being superior. This paper is not a history of compact disk packaging; it is about our relationship with the packaging as an artifact.

From the Paper
"The compact disc case is an interesting cultural artifact because it is so flawed. The traditional jewel case has arms on the outside case connecting the pivot to the body of the case that contains the disc and the disc tray. Everyone knows how delicate these arms are, how often they break, and have a loose recollection of the other forms of compact disc packaging that have worked better. This essay is about the cultural associations we have in compact disc packaging, and how the frail jewel case has remained the standard packaging in spite of almost every other packaging method being superior. This essay is not a history of compact disk packaging; it is about our..."

Tags:artifact, social science, jewel case

Abstract
This paper describes a tombstone of either Persian or Syrian origin which was created in the twelfth century. The paper further analyzes the artifact's composition and how it is classified. Additionally, it gives the tombstone's dimensions and also details the inscription.

From the Paper
" This artefact is of either Persian or Syrian origin and was created in the twelfth century. It is composed out of marble as is classified as a ceremonial artefact; the proportions of this artefact are 37 1/16 inches high and 27 . inches wide. Proceeding further, the item has Kufic and Nashki inscriptions and is signed "Abu'l Qasim al-Jarrad - which apparently is a synonym for "Abu'l Qasim the Armorer". The artefact is symmetrical insofar as the same images and shapes carved on one side of the invisible divide are found on the other side, as well. The fact the tomb's face is marked by etchings does give its surface a..."

Tags:formal, analysis, tombstone

Abstract
This paper discusses the use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Petrographic analysis, microscopy and radiography, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (IR) in examining archeological remains. The author includes an application of these methods. Pictures and graphs are included.

From the Paper
"There are many ways one can study archaeological materials. This paper will focus on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Petrographic analysis, microscopy and radiography, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (IR). All are part of a process that helps to identify many materials, which in turn provide answers to parts of the past. They are all very useful tools for the examination of archaeological artifacts and many other things."

Tags:electron, infrared, ir, magnetic, microscope, readiography, resonance, scanning, science, scientific

Abstract
The paper relates that few corporate leaders enjoyed the breath-taking success of Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., as he presided over the ascendance of General Motors to a pre-eminent position in global business. The paper loooks at how Sloan's 1963 autobiography, "My Years at General Motors", is an attempt by the long-serving CEO to remind readers of his greatness, the greatness of his company, and the greatness, the dynamism, of the American automotive sector. The paper examines how one of the text's more fascinating chapters, "Evolution of the Automobile," is a glimpse into America in 1963. The paper clearly shows how Sloan's autobiography is a glimpse of a time when the United States was unapologetic, enormously prideful, and its automotive industry was, far and wide, the dominant one in the world.

From the Paper
"Few corporate leaders enjoyed the breath-taking success of Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., as he presided over the ascendance of General Motors to a pre-eminent position in global business. Understandably, Sloan's 1963 autobiography, "My Years at General Motors", is an attempt by the long-serving CEO to remind readers of his greatness, the greatness of his company, and the greatness, the dynamism, of the American automotive sector. With that in mind, it is appropriate to look at how one of the text's more fascinating chapters, "Evolution of the Automobile," is - as much as it is anything else - a glimpse into America in 1963; in other..."

Tags:general, motors, anthropology

Abstract
This paper describes the different types of artifacts seen in CT scans and their origins and causes. The paper then examines and discusses preventative measures to reduce these artifacts. This paper also contains corresponding illustrations.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Type of Artifacts
1. Physics Based Artifacts
a. Beam Hardening
b. Partial Volume
c. Photon Starvation
d. Undersampling
2. Patient Based Artifacts
3. Scanner Based Artifacts
4. Helical and Multisection CT Artifacts
5. Artifacts Due to Other Causes
Methods to Resolve Artifacts
References

From the Paper
"Metal artifacts can be avoided by asking the patient to remove any metals like jewelry before the start of scanning. For metals like prosthetic devices, surgical clips and dental fillings, which cannot be removed for the scanning, gantry angulation can be used. If the metal object cannot be excluded by any of the above technique, increasing the kilovoltage and the use of thin sections can reduce the partial volume artifact. The use of special software corrections can reduce streaking due to overranging (Barrett and Keat 2004.)
"Patient-based artifacts due to movement can be prevented by appropriate means. For most patients, the use of positioning aids can prevent any voluntary movement. However, in some patients, especially in the pediatric age-group, sedation may be required to immobilize them. In order to minimize artifacts in areas where natural movement is present, a short scan time can be used."

Tags:ct scan, streaking rings distortion shading, x-ray, truncation artifacts

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that until about 1870, historians and scholars who specialized in the history and archeology of ancient Greece were, for the most part, quite ignorant about Greek culture and society and considered this area of study as being filled with myth. The writer points out that from excavations conducted in the early years of the 20th century, the history of ancient Greece is now well-known and understood, especially through the magnificent artifacts that have been uncovered. Thus, the writer maintains that these artifacts illustrate that the cultural and social heritage of ancient Greece was one of the most important Western civilizations of all time. The writer concludes that they also prove that the ancient Greeks were superb artisans who always attempted to reveal the intricacies of Greek culture through their work.

From the Paper
"In essence, many of these artifacts will enable us to reconstruct the development of the Greek style in art and to appreciate their uses and place in ancient Greek society. Imagine for a moment living in ancient Greece, perhaps somewhere amid the long and winding coastline of the Aegean Sea, or perhaps high up in the great mountain chains of the Peloponnesos or Thessaly, the home of Mount Olympus and the pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses, such as all-powerful Zeus and his wife Hera, Aphrodite, the goddess of love, Apollo and Hermes, the messenger of the gods."
"In this environment, common men and women worked in the cities as laborers, merchants and slaves and toiled in the fields in order to feed the hungry masses in places like Argos, Sparta, Thebes and especially mighty Athens, the home of Pericles and Greek democracy. Thus, in these and many other environments, the ancient Greeks fashioned a very wide spectrum of items, ranging from ordinary clay pots to outstanding examples of Greek art in the form of amphora, drinking vessels, armor, weapons, jewelry, bowls and statues."

Tags:excavations, Crete, gods, performing, arts

Abstract
This paper discusses how, by visiting the Detroit Institute of Arts, the author was able to closely examine Ancient Egyptian artifacts first hand and how it is clear that art was a very important aspect of Ancient Egyptian culture. The paper focuses on and describes the elaborate funeral items, colorful paintings, inscriptions, and hieroglyphs that adorned the sarcophagi of various Egyptian mummies on display in the Egyptian showroom.

From the Paper
"When viewing an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, it is apparent that art served a spiritual purpose. Kings and members of the royal family were entitled to extravagant tombs and coffins with intricate artwork and detail in order to bring beauty to the afterlife. One of the sarcophagi that I examined obviously belonged to a king or a man of royalty. His sarcophagus is believed to be from between 850-750 B.C.E. It was made in Egypt with linen and stucco and was the largest sarcophagus in the museum. One of the first signs of his elevated social status was the head cloth that surrounded his face, which was striped with blue and yellow paint. At the museum, I learned that this type of head cloth is known as Nemes and was worn only by royalty, primarily during the third dynasty (SOURCE 1). "

Tags:tomb, sarcophagus, casket, mummy

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that class struggle is one conflict that has persistently influenced social development and art. For purposes of this paper, the writer treats both criticism and history as forms of 'art' in themselves, respectively based on the creative equality between art and criticism Oscar Wilde argues in 'The Critic as Artist' and the structural equipollency between history and literature cited by Hayden White in 'The Historical Text as Literary Artifact'. The writer maintains that if one therefore assumes that most art, as defined above, is the product of either education, or writing, or both, then it is one of the inherent components of class struggle. The writer concludes that art, especially in the written form, is a practice which, regardless of its intention, may empower those elites capable of comprehending and analyzing it and therefore potentially sharpens the class divide.

From the Paper
"As such, both history and criticism employ the same technique to the same end: the use of reason and language to explain the meaning of an object at hand. Thus each stands in the same relationship to the object as the artist stands to reality. Since literature and painting undergo the same process of creation and interpretation as history, we may also interpret history as art also.
"While both authors appear to have similar notions about the use of 'art' to assign form and meaning, their positions on its role in society diverge."

Tags:writing, criticism, social, hierarchies

Abstract
This paper explains that water bottles, designed to hold water and any sort of liquid, come in a variety of shapes, sizes and even methods of use. The author points out that, while water bottles originally may have been developed for athletic purposes, they now have become both a fashion statement and a convenience item. The paper states that the water bottle as a cultural artifact is an important element of a greater cultural development called commoditization. The author suggests that, in analyzing the water bottle as a commodity and as a cultural relic, it is best to rely on a qualitative methodology, which will allow the researcher to approach this topic from an phenomenological perspective rather than a deterministic, quantitative perspective that might obscure the fact that actual people use water bottles in a myriad of ways and for a number of diverse purposes. The paper includes a colored picture of water bottles.

Table of Content:
Description
Substantial Analysis
Content
Formal Analysis
Deduction
Sensory Engagement
Intellectual Engagement
Emotional Response
Speculation
Theories & Hypothesis
Program of Research

From the Paper
"The water bottle is a work of architecture as much as it is an item of convenience. In architecture, form and function are uniquely inter-related and in design related specialties that must pay attention to this relationship, how the designer melds these two attributes is critical to the final appearance and practicality of the item in question. For the water bottle, it can be seen that function follows form. The most important attribute of the typical water bottle is the manner in which it holds water and how easily it can be grasped by the human hand without any form of manual assistance in the form of another individual or a lifting device such as a strap or a handle."

Tags:functionality, commoditization, phenomenological, fashion, athletic