Archys dears, and others complaining here...
Yes, teenagers have an "attitude" but I'd bet you did too when you were a
teen. I did; I guess, anyway mom says I did, and also she confessed that
she did. My dad's mom says he did.
The analogy that the public is like a surly know it all teen is quite
appropriate. But, as a parent, what is the best way to deal with it?
Preaching? Whining? Yelling? Hiding in a hole? (Preferably with nice
straight sidewalls?)
I don't think so.
Popular thought on archaeology, as has been discussed to death, is often
skewed towards romanticism, treasure hunting, dinosaurs, and so on. "We" as
archaeologists "know the reality" and like any profession need to use our
professional training (remember emic and etic?) to see it from "their eyes"
and explain it in an understandable way to "them."
All of this thread has just highlighted once again the extreme importance of
courtesy, and the dire need to reach out to the public.
Probably one of the best ways to do this is to take a day from your busy
schedule and offer to go to high schools during career days. Then do it.
Show up in your field clothes, pick the surliest most hulking kid, and
criticise their inadequate field garb. Show no mercy for hair styles or
fingernails. Then plop on your kerchief, hat, gloves, compass, backpack (be
sure its heavy and pokes them), and ill fitting dirty shirt, give them a
rolled up map, make them hold a pick and shovel, and take their picture. I
guarantee if you do this with gentle humor the class and your victim will
play along and if you give the photo to said hulk she/he will be seen later
displaying it to friends.
And then skewer them with ARPA, pothunting, disgusting critters, vile clay
soils, crappy weather, and other archaeological realities. Bring some real
artifacts and let them handle them. Tell them why you have them (they were
pothunted confiscated and nonprovenienced). And explain that you have a
crush on Indy, or his cutie girlfriend, or even both if you want a laugh,
but let them know that's a fairy tale and you are the real Indy or cutie.
Ask if they've seen Time Traveler or History Detectives and Jurassic Park
and Clan of the Cave Bear. Explain what's right or wrong with those
depictions. Pass out Archaeology magazines with strict instructions to be
careful. Stomp through the classroom. Point out things you notice as they
rifle through them.
And be sure you give them time to ask questions. Occassionally I've had
classes that were so stunned they had none. Tell them about your favorite
artifact or site, or dramatize one of your own field or lab experiences.
Do you know what you have done if you do this?
Educated 30 or more potential voters and their often misinformed teachers.
Had a break from the damned balky computer. Been a star for a day.
Then go back to playing in the mud and swatting mosquitos and bitching about
the weather.
But for gods sake lets quit whining about poor misunderstood us and do
something constructive about it.
----- Original Message -----
From: "charles alexander" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 5:20 PM
Subject: Re: Re TT
Have you ever tried to explain something or offer advice to a teenage child?
They often look at you like you are from Mars. They figure you don't
understand what they are going through and couldn't possibly help their
situation. This is the attitude the general public takes with Archaeology.
Archaeologists are the minority of teenagers who realize that our "parents"
have been through some of the very same things we are now facing. We have
something to learn about the successes and failures of the people who lived
before us in the same way a young adult could learn from his parents. Human
behavior is patterned. Archaeology is not a luxury, without it we are all
doomed to repeat our past mistakes. Isn't there a famous quote describing
that very thing? Most of what Archaeologists learn becomes buried in an
archive somewhere or at best, debated within academic circles. The public
has no idea what we are doing or why we are doing it. I believe Archaeology
is capable of helping to solve many of the problems faced in modern society
much in the same way we have something to offer our children.
Charles Alexander
> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:56:15 +0000
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re TT
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> I f there was a referendum on such things most of the people on this
> list would be out of a job as many in the public see us as
> over-educated, self satisfied leaches frittering their tax dollars on
> luxury projects. A touch of populism if it explains anything of why
> archaeology is important or interesting does no harm especially in the
> current economic climate. Remember hundreds of sites are currently -this
> minute- being bulldozed, plowed (American sp?) out or dug with
> inadequate budgets and resources all over the planet.
>
> pc
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