Digging into the Supernatural World. Cinema's Intrinsically Religious Depiction of Archaeology.

Summary

Over the last half century film makers have created hundreds of movies about archaeologists. Many of these films present narratives that are located in supernatural worlds and explicitly religious in character. Within these supernatural and extraterrestrial stories, archaeologists are positioned as mage or priest, the individuals with the knowledge to release magic into the world or to prevent release. These fictional representations of archaeologists as active participants in supernatural dramas advocate pseudoarchaeological and religious views, that reflect nonscientific beliefs popular in film studios as well as with audiences across the globe. This paper explores the ways in which film-makers have created a concept of archaeologist that has helped them pursue mythic imperatives.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Archaeology and New or Alternative Religious Movements

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16536