SafeCorner, the blog maintained by Nathan T. Elkins a variety of people for Saving Antiquities for Everyone,
Would you trust this man with your antiquities? Harrison Ford at Japan premiere of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, June 5, 2008
Photo Credit: Junko Kimura / Getty Images
has started an interesting discussion about the Indiana Jones movies, particularly whether it was a wise move for the Archaeological Institute of America to name actor Harrison Ford to its board of directors. Noted archaeologist and outspoken supporter of world wide cultural heritage Oscar Muscarella argues that the image portrayed by Ford in the Indiana Jones movies is just exactly the opposite of what archaeologists interested in saving cultural heritage would want to support.
Would you trust this man with your antiquities? Harrison Ford at Japan premiere of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, June 5, 2008
Photo Credit: Junko Kimura / Getty Images
It's true that the relic-grabbing, site-destroying, indigenous-person-battling IJ is not a real role model for any archaeologist I know. (Although I've noted a startling growth in the number of fedoras worn by my colleagues over the past twenty years.) My personal opinion is that with Ford on the board, the AIA may be able to tap into the inarguable pop culture weight that he brings with him. Maybe we can get him interested in producing documentaries about real archaeology, and how great would that be?
You of course, may feel differently...
The discussion on SafeCorner is well worth a peek.
- SafeCorner Saving Antiquities for Everyone's blog
- Saving Antiquities for Everyone
- Indiana Jones is a Plunderer: What do you think? on SafeCorner
- Archaeological Institute of America
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, official site
- Harrison Ford elected to the AIA Board of Directors
Comments
If having Harrison Ford in the AIA brings attention to archeology in general (most especially to it’s value), and cultivates interest from younger generations then yes–absolutely!
I really wish that established powers that be would start using their imaginations. It really is a common occurance that “facts” taught in text books are actually one-sided opinions that turn out to be wrong and should be challenged, and challenged openly.
The reasoning is based on the fact that the character of Indiana Jones has encouraged more teenagers entering college to take Anthropology and Archaeology courses. While their illusions are quickly dashed when the teacher says “No, you don’t get a whip with your textbook,” they still are introduced to the subject and get hooked. I can’t even beging to count the number of teachers that told me “Indiana Jones is a horrible Archaeologist.” Of course he is, but he’s cool. Indiana Jones gets people interested. Teachers make the students stay.
For that reason, I’m all for Harrison Ford being a board member!
Hi,
Thanks for reading and blogging about SAFECORNER.
I just wanted to clarify that SAFECORNER is not my blog and the post in question was not mine. I am simply one of the team members of SAFECORNER and I sometimes post there. The user “SAFECORNER,” the organization’s ‘neutral collective voice’ posted the discussion about Oscar Muscarella’s comments. My own post was on SAFECORNER pertinent to this discussion was “Harrison Ford and the AIA”
The only blog I am currently operating on my own is
Numismatics and Archaeology.
Nice blog, btw.
All best,
Nathan
Harrison Ford is a serious person and even though he portrays Indiana Jones and all the idiocy that goes with it, still he brings with him to AIA some publicity and like SafeCorner says, maybe he produce good documentaries on the real archeology out there.
I think it’s a great PR move. If Ford were to host/narrate a special about how real archaeology is done, then he could make up for the fact that the only ones who appear to be able to organize a “real” dig in the movies are the Nazis.
Or perhaps that’s a “dig” at certain pros who are extremely protective of what digs are allowed in their bailiwicks and what results are published.
Or maybe I’m thinking too much.