Archaeology & the Media
ANT 435
Spring 2009
Spring Term 2009
Tuesdays & Thursdays
2:00-3:15
SBS Room 207, UNC Wilmington
Scott E. Simmons, Ph.D.
simmonss@uncw.edu; 910.962.3429
Office Hours: M & W 2-4 pm
http://people.uncw.edu/simmonss
Course Description:
In recent years, there
has been an explosion of public interest in archaeology and its representation
on the television and other areas of the media. As a result, the ‘general
public’ has had the opportunity to learn quite a lot
about the field of archaeology. But what are they learning? This class will
explore the ways in which the major, mainstream media outlets in North America,
Great Britain and Australia – the internet, television, film, radio, magazines, newspaper, and
other print media – portray archaeology to the general public. How accurate are
their depictions of archaeology? To what extent do the mainstream media
glamorize or sensationalize news stories about archaeological discoveries? How
biased or unbiased are the popular media in their treatment of news in
archaeology? How are myths or stereotypes about archaeology generated and
perpetuated by the media? In what ways do media depictions of the field differ
from the realities of archaeological research? Who are the target audiences?
These are all topics of discussion for this course. In this seminar class students will critically evaluate information
content, use of certain kinds of language, visual components, sources of
information used and other elements of reporting used by both the mainstream
media and professional archaeological organizations in their reporting of
archaeological research. Students will regularly critique various kinds of
reports produced by both the mainstream media as well as professional
organizations to assess and evaluate the similarities and differences between
each. Finally, students will understand the extent to which the mainstream
media influences or shapes public perceptions of what professional archaeology
is all about.
Class Sessions
Topics of
Discussion Assigned
Readings
Week
1 What is the Mainstream Media?
Chapter 1
Jan 8 Its agendas and methods
Reading Packet 1
Week
2 Popularizing
archaeology:
Chapter 2
Jan 13, 15 What
does an archaeologist look like? Reading Packet 2
Week
3 What is the profession
doing? Reading Packet 3
Jan 20, 22 Archaeologists get wise and try to set the record
straight
Week 4 pc
So, that’s what they think archaeology is?
Jan 27, 29 (Part
I)
Chapter 3
Week 5 pc
So, that’s what they think archaeologists do?
Chapter 4
Feb 3, 5 (Part
II) Reading Packet
4
Week 6 pc
The world of archaeology & archaeologists -
Chapter 5
Feb 10, 12 according to Hollywood
Reading Packet 5
Week 7 pc
The History Channel, National Geographic,
Chapter 6
Feb 17, 19 NOVA & the Discovery Channel
Reading Packet 6
Week 8 pc
Archaeology in the Funny Papers
Chapter 7
Feb 24, 26 Comic strips & poking fun at the field
Reading Packet 7
Week
9 pc Extra, Extra! Read all about it!
Chapter 8
March 3, 5
Archaeology in the Newspapers
Week 10
SPRING BREAK - NO CLASSES THIS WEEK
March 10, 12
Week 11 pc
Time & Newsweek versus
Chapter 9
March 17, 19 Smithsonian & Discover: the Periodicals
I
Week 12 pc
Pop culture & Science: the Periodicals II
Chapter 10
March 24, 26
Week 13 c
Brian Fagan & Ken Feder swing both ways:
Chapter 11
March 31 &
April 2 how professionals write for the general public
Week 14 c What’s truth got to do with it?
Chapter 12
April 7, 9 The facts vs. the glitz and glamour (Part I)
NO CLASSES ON THURSDAY APRIL 9
Week 15
What’s truth got to do with it?
Chapter 13
April 14, 16 The facts vs. the glitz and glamour (Part
II)
Final Project Due
Tuesday
Week 16
Archaeology & the Media’s Futures
Chapter 14
April 21, 23 LAST CLASS ON TUESDAY
p denotes week with
student
presentations
c denotes week when critiques are due (all on Thursdays)
Professor’s Web Site:
Log onto
http://people.uncw.edu/simmonss for class announcements, guidelines for
graded assignments, extra credit opportunities, current news about archaeology
and the media, the course syllabus, and information about how archaeology is
portrayed by the media and perceived by the public.
Class Participation
- 100 points
This is a seminar class. Your regular participation in class discussions is
required. This participation includes expressing your views on aspects of media
coverage of archaeology, questions you ask during class, observations you make
on material we are covering in class, etc. Your participation in class
discussions can influence your grade significantly.
Oral Presentation
- 100 points
Choose a date for your oral presentation by writing your name on the sign-up
sheet posted on my office door. First come, first served. You will present
your critique of a media story of your choosing (film, newspaper article,
magazine story, journal article, or something other) for approximately 15
minutes, and answer questions afterward.
Critiques of Media
Reports/Films
- 10 points each; 100 points total
Throughout the course you’ll be evaluating or critiquing the content, manner of
presentation, narration/writing, and other attributes of films, newspaper
articles, scholarly journals, popular magazine articles, and the like. You
will turn in ten of these. Some critiques will be in-class evaluations,
such as when we watch films together in class, and some you’ll do as homework.
You will turn in your double-spaced, typed critique on scheduled Thursdays.
Film Critique/Evaluation
Questions
- 100 points
In the last third of the semester, after you have completed several film
critiques on your own, you will create a set of film evaluation questions that
you, as a reviewer, would suggest others ask when they critically watch a film
depicting some aspect of archaeology. What should one look for when
they’re reviewing a media portrayal of the field of archaeology? What questions
are important to ask when one is evaluating films on archaeology? Finally, you
will state, in summary form, exactly why you believe it is important to
ask the questions you ask in your film critique.
Final Project - Survey
Questionnaire and Responses
- 100 points
You’ll be given a series of questions that you will ask to two people you’ve
never met. Two of the questions you will create yourself. Bring your clipboard
and a pencil, pick a place (downtown, River Walk, mall, etc), and ask a set of
questions that are designed to help you understand public perceptions about
archaeology. What Wilmingtonians say about archaeology might surprise you –
find out!
Grade Breakdown for the
course:
A = 450
- 500 pts C = 350 - 399 pts F = anything less than 300 points
B = 400 - 449 pts D = 300 - 349 pts