The Reception of Archaeology in Film is an appraisal of how the profession of archaeology and its related fields are presented in Hollywood cinema. Using the Indiana Jones series as a jumping off point, McGeough explores how these movies inspire the public’s interest in the past but simultaneously complicate that interest. The Reception of Archaeology in Film shows how the stories told about the profession are often more entangled with the history of film than the history of the cultures the cinematic characters are exploring. Concentrating on the social meanings that are constructed through these films rather than critiquing the accuracy of archaeological techniques depicted, the book examines how the repetition of tropes about the past and its relationships to different communities informs contemporary arguments. Issues of imperialism and colonialism tie into larger questions that the field of archaeology grapples with. Other issues, such as the ubiquity of violence in these movies and the reframing of antiquities as powerful weapons point to other social tensions. The treatment of the past as something to be rescued, as something to be fought for, and as something that can be translated into financial gain all impact contemporary policies about heritage. Lines are drawn in these films between which kinds of conduct toward the past are heroic, which are evil, which are criminal, and which are ethical, and these impact viewer perceptions in powerful but not necessarily readily apparent ways.

Aimed at students and scholars, The Reception of Archaeology in Film is suitable for those well familiar with movies, archaeology, and critical theory, and those who want an introduction to the subject.

Series: Discourses in Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Studies