Archaeology and Mainstream Media: Slippery Slope or Revolution Worth Stoking?

Summary

This is a paper/report submission presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Few would deny that in recent decades, methodological and theoretical revolutions have transformed the practice of historical archaeology. Through technological innovations and new intellectual avenues for interpreting the past, the ways and means by which historical archaeologists approach research and analysis have advanced tremendously in scope and sophistication. When it comes to reporting and disseminating findings, however, the prevailing norm remains a narrow swath of traditional academic outlets and forms of discourse. But what are the prospects for alternative, more popular media, anyway? What has been gained (and lost), for example, in the proliferation of 24/7 history-themed programming on popular television and the internet? Focused on the power of storytelling to convey, convince, and entertain, this paper considers the perils and possibilities of archaeologists navigating the strait between professional and popular audiences.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• 2020 SHA General Sessions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 568