Amen, James.  I try to do as much outreach as I can, because it seems to
me that the true value of archaeology is the eye-opening experience it
can be for the person on the street.  I think professionals tend to
become too comfortable among their own kind and forget the public. The
academic jargon that they use can be very painful to listen to (and
read) at times, and certainly does not inspire. If it's the Myth of
Archaeology (perpetuated by the big screen) that inspires folks and gets
them interested, so be it.  There are plenty of excellent documentaries
on cable these days that can expand and educate that interest, and in my
experience, people usually get excited when they meet an archaeologist
and are fascinated by what we do, so we should talk to them whenever
possible. We come into contact with people in the field all the time,
but how many of us take the time to talk and listen to them?

Marty Pickands
New York State Museum

>>> [log in to unmask] 08/07/06 8:23 PM >>>
There are also different genres of fiction. I expect fantasy and  
science fiction to be a bit out there. But really good fiction about  
the real world is believable. This requires something that Hollywood  
has increasing difficulty with- plot and dialogue rather than special 

effects or gratuitous sex and violence. As a result I don't often go  
to the movies.

On the other hand we should also be seriously concerned that the vast 

majority of archaeology and archaeologists are unintelligible to  
"ordinary" people. Heck there have been a number of papers I've  
attended that when the speaker sat down my only thought was "Huh?". I 

don't have to take my shoes off to count the number of archaeologists 

who can communicate outside the profession. And that is a real  
problem, because we are not self funding.

James Brothers, RPA
[log in to unmask] 



On Aug 7, 2006, at 19:49, Ron May wrote:

> Let us not forget Clive Cussler when you think of fiction.
>
> Ron May
> Legacy 106, Inc.