The artifact to be analyzed is Magic Johnson, the basketball player and businessman. The meaning of this artifact has changed several times in recent years, with the biggest change coming in the shift from basketball hero to basketball-hero-with-AIDS. Indeed, the artifact is now as closely identified with the AIDS problem as with basketball. Magic Johnson was well-established prior to that time as a basketball hero in Los Angeles, one of the major players in the game, and he was in fact still part of the game when he made his announcement concerning his HIV status. This announcement had a major impact on the consciousness of the public for several reasons, showing how important the artifact is in our culture. Johnson stated that he was HIV positive and that he would retire from basketball as a result. The revelation was a shock to the public. First, Magic Johnson was a well-known and…