Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T04:28:11.966Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Archaeology and the Public Image

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Robert Ascher
Robert Ascher*
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles, Calif.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The archaeological content of ten years of Life magazine is analyzed in an attempt to identify what may go into formulating the public's images of the archaeologist and his goals. The four themes which appear in the 34 Life articles are: chance nature of archaeological discovery, role of the archaeologist as an expert, emphasis on technical knowledge and skills, and heavy use of superlatives. Analysis of other mass media, including fiction and cartoons, might lead to the identification of other themes. The image of archaeology presented by mass communication is considered important in a science so dependent upon public cooperation.

Type
Facts and Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , January 1960 , pp. 402 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1960

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)