An artifact which displays our current culture

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The artifact which was chosen for this assignment is the United States of America's own Statue of Liberty located in New York City's harbor on an island appropriately called, Liberty. This immense effigy is premeditated or fabricated in what is known as a neoclassical style. It was devised by Frederic Bartholdi from France and presented formally on the 28th of October in the year of 1886. This gift is from the People of France to the people of our United States of America. It is of a robed female designed to represent the Roman Goddess of Freedom, Libertas. She holds a lit torch overhead and a tablet which evokes the law which in Latin translates into tabula ansata. Awesomely on this tablet are inscribed the famous and important date of the fourth of July seventeen seventy and six. At her feet lies a chain which is broken. The statue lies on a base made of detailed rough stone work and the statue itself is comprised of copper sheets.

This artifact has the righteous written words on it," Give me your tired, your poor, you're hungry"...was designed to be and has become an iconic figure which represents the spirit, values, opportunities, rights and freedoms and beliefs of what many consider (myself included), the greatest nation on this p It planet earth. One can imagine Ronald Reagan speaking in front of this (and he actually did). This beautiful, beckoning statue represents what America stands for mainly freedoms from oppression and oppressive people and opportunity.

The deep cultural and historical roots allowed this statue or artifact to come into being because at the time America was really growing, becoming a melting pot and also was really starting to booth see and experience the growth of industry and larger buildings. Related to this idea or ideal is that the man who designed it also designed that equally famous and colossal monument in the city of Paris France. That being, the Eiffel Tower. Also, having it come from France (our friends and strong allies during both our revolution and fight against oppressive tyranny against England, the British Isles and its empire), and later their indirect help during the War of 1912 (Napoleonic Wars in Europe), and the selling of the Louisiana Purchase as well. Also, their own revolution as well as ours goes back to ideas expressed in such documents as the Magna Carta, The Rights of Man and other ideas expressed by Locke and France's own Roseau.

The cultural and historical roots which helped influence this important artifact include ancient Greece and Rome; hence its style being that of what has been called or referred to as, Neo-Classical style. This can be seen not only in the beauty of the statue, but its realism as well. In other words its close attention to the physical details that enshrine this true work of art displays this. Similar details, but none even close to being as large or colossal can be seen in figures, statues and paintings either from this time and or ones from the renaissance that try to purport this as well. For example Michael Angelo's David as well as the Sistine Chapel's ceiling in of all places where it really should be, Rome. Or even Davinci's Mona Lisa. As suggested earlier its use of copper can be seen as a dedication to or perhaps even a representation of the growing and burgeoning sky scrapers starting to and continuing during its years since the dotting and decorating Manhattan's and the multiple other borough's skylines. Finally related to this, the statue was supposed to be dedicated during America's centennial birthday. Its representations of freedom go back to not only the world's first modern Democratic Republic, but also goes back to and relates to Greece, where as we all know, started the idea of democracy/Democracy.

So far this artifact has truly stood the real test of time. When a foreigner thinks of America, they still picture and envision our own and proudly displayed and thought of "Lady Liberty". Millions of people visit this important piece of true and valued Americana every single year. Appropriately she was fixed up during our bicentennial and on her 100th birthday as well. Also, there are major, important and pertinent restorations starting to take place with her now as we start and continue to approach our great statue's one hundred and thirtieth birthdays as well.

What will the ...