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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.
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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

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