Introduction
Meaning develops within historical, cultural, political, and technological worlds.
No artifact exists by itself. Every message is produced within a particular time, place, institution, technology, economy, and cultural environment. Context explains why a symbol or phrase could become meaningful to one audience at one moment.
Historical context identifies earlier events, traditions, conflicts, and institutions that shaped the artifact. Cultural context examines shared values and expectations. Political and economic context reveal the structures of power and resources surrounding its production.
Context does not determine meaning completely, but it limits and enables interpretation. Understanding the world that produced an artifact helps viewers avoid projecting present assumptions onto unfamiliar situations.