A civic artifact is any object that can engage an audience within a specific time period. More times than not, these artifacts transcend the periods in which they were unveiled and can stir up civic engagement for years after. Civic artifacts can be expressed in many different ways; they may be a physical object, a message, an illustration, etc. I will be talking about the iconic Uncle Sam, “I want you for U.S. Army” poster that circulated heavily after the United States declared war against Germany in 1917. 
The poster depicts Uncle Sam –who is a civic artifact himself– pointing at the reader with an intense and meaningful look. The image quickly spread across the country and stirred up a feeling of obligation to participate. Men began to enlist in the army at a rapid rate. Eventually, the image began to fade from the public eye after the signing of the armistice in 1918. Although, this was not the end for Uncle Sam or the “I want you for U.S. Army” message. Only a mere 23 years later, in 1941; the United States got involved in a new war with the start of WWII. The illustration of Uncle Sam and the message that accompanied it again began to pop up all over the United States. This, of course, had the same effect and lead to an increase in enlistment in the army. The red, white and blue colors that are featured in the poster and as Uncle Sam’s clothing, Uncle Sam’s grimace and intentional pointed finger and the boldness of the word “YOU” in the poster all work together to persuade the audience. This image and message remains a historical civic artifact that will remind people of the sacrifices made for their country and the freedom that we enjoy everyday. Today, people all over the United States, and all over the world, know this poster and understand the meaning of it. They know the history behind the image and will always look back to it as a symbol of American values and traditions.
Sources Referenced:
“I Want YOU!” – The Story Behind One of the Most Famous Wartime Posters in History
I thought that the analysis of Uncle Sam’s “I want YOU!” poster was very thorough. You did a good job at defining and explaining commonplaces.
I enjoyed your analysis of the Uncle Sam posted. As you mentioned, Uncle Sam is extremely important to the American War time. He embodies who the average male American should be during this time period. I like that you incorporate the way that the posters make men feel and discuss the impact the posters have on Americans. Overall, I think your analysis was great!