Archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-Archeology
Contrary to a prevalent impression within the research community, pseudo-science is far from a marginal phenomenon, far from being a mere epiphenomenon in the mediascape. As this article shows, it constitutes a dominant trend since the 2010s, especially in historical and archeological television doc...
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| Μορφή: | Online |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
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Urray
2022
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| Διαθέσιμο Online: | https://pasithee.library.upatras.gr/review/article/view/3873 |
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oai:ojs.pasithee.library.upatras.gr:article-38732023-06-09T10:08:22Z Archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-Archeology SCHIELE, ALEXANDRE SCHIELE, BERNARD Science, pseudoscience, expert, media, television, media format Contrary to a prevalent impression within the research community, pseudo-science is far from a marginal phenomenon, far from being a mere epiphenomenon in the mediascape. As this article shows, it constitutes a dominant trend since the 2010s, especially in historical and archeological television documentaries. These documentaries enjoy high ratings, which partly explains why producers continue to make them. Thus, omnipresent in the mediascape and beyond, they outcompete the scientific consensus and the worldview it projects, regardless of the debunking efforts of researchers and journalists. Furthermore, pseudoscience publications enjoy sales volumes that even the most renown researchers can only dream of. This omnipresence of pseudoscientific discourses in the social sphere transforms representations, increases beliefs in the paranormal and encourages conspiratorial mindsets. The comparative analysis of two documentaries: Lost World of the Maya (National Geographic) (NG) and Ancient Aliens©: Secret of the Maya (AA), has revealed a great number of similarities. Their format is identical, with the same number of segments, separated by synchronous commercial breaks of equal lengths (give or take a few seconds). If they somewhat differ in terms of treatment (AA proposes to uncover a conspiracy, and NG to solve an enigma) and the structure of the argumentation (AA: narration, assertion, speculation; NG: description, question, interpretation), they both show the same archetypal images of the Maya culture and mobilize the same enunciative modalities: a voice-over commentary ensures coherence throughout, interspaced with snippets from specifically invited “experts” whose task is to illustrate, specify, justify…. the overarching narrative. And yet, although many appear on screen, their speaking time is unequally distributed, with one (NG) or two (AA) speaking the most, and the others barely a minute each in total. Thus, their similarity is such that it is accurate to speak of variations within a media format. More precisely, we can only reaffirm Marshall McLuhan’s observation that “the medium is the message”, as, beyond the scientific or pseudoscientific narrative, the very dynamic of the media predominates, blurring the distinction between the two. Urray 2022-07-13 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf https://pasithee.library.upatras.gr/review/article/view/3873 10.26220/rev.3873 Review of Science, Mathematics and ICT Education; Vol 16, No 1 (2022): Archaeological knowledge in the era of scientific mediation: issues in the mass media and museums; 19-48 Review of Science, Mathematics and ICT Education; Vol 16, No 1 (2022): Archaeological knowledge in the era of scientific mediation: issues in the mass media and museums; 19-48 1792-3999 1791-261X eng https://pasithee.library.upatras.gr/review/article/view/3873/4022 Copyright (c) 2022 Review of Science, Mathematics and ICT Education |
| institution |
UPatras |
| collection |
Pasithee |
| language |
English |
| topic |
Science education, scientific revolution, history and philosophy of science and Science and mathematics education education Participation, early mathematics, mathematising process, children’s initiatives, play pedagogies Primary education, investigative approach, scientific and technological activities Material and virtual resources, praxeology, task, technique, technology, register, number sense, place-value system, Chinese abacus Science, pseudoscience, expert, media, television, media format Chemical reaction, MBL, Lebanon, labwork education Spatial skills, programming cards, Scratch Jr, tangible material, code learning education Contradictions, conflicts, turning points, early childhood, science education, motives, demands, everyday concepts, scientific concepts Explanations construction, teaching, sciences, preschool Avalanche, joint action theory for didactics (JATD), physics, resources, science communication Museology, science education, archaeological museum, interdisciplinary interpretation of museum collections, archaeometry Science disaffection, aims of science education, didactics, educational policy and administration education Technology education, curriculum, gender Content analysis, qualitative research, primary school, scientific research activity PhD studies, PhD student, supervisor, research problem Science education, chemistry, conceptions, teaching practices, atomic models Health literacy, kindergarten teacher, qualitative research, content analysis Environmental education, environmental issues, social representations, word associations, environmental conceptions Indigenous education, biology education, models, living beings classification Digital technology, documentation work, programming, students’ autonomy, teacher education education Science education, precursor models construction, flotation, teaching and learning strategy, preschool education. Science, investigation, école primaire, élèves en situation de handicap Scolarisation des élèves handicapés; habiletés éducatives; gestes professionnels d’ajustement; auxiliaire de vie scolaire; école primaire française Teacher training, mathematics teaching, scheme, instrument Teaching physics, energy concept, systems of signs, inscriptions, semiotic resources Concept force, didactic transposition, mathematical approach, students’ difficulties misconceptions France, history of science, teaching, experimental sciences, Volta. Inquiry based teaching, formulation of hypotheses, buoyancy, manipulation, students' ideas Inquiry-Based Science Education, biology in early childhood education, teaching practices in kindergarten, learning practices in kindergarten Early childhood science, drawing, young children’s ideas, change of state Science Education, Mathematics Education, international testing, school curricula Problems solving, knowledge, task, declarative, procedural, hierarchy Earth science curriculum, student learning, quality assessment, validity and reliability study, survey development Health education, educational styles, biomedical model, health promotion, textbooks Learning material; knowledge structures; WPW learning model; content specialization; engagement; heteroglossia Educative robotics, primary school, learning, micro-genetics approach, activity analysis Ethical issues, Biological Sciences, PCK, Scientific Argumentation Conception, learning, complexity, ecosystem Conception, learning, complexity, ecosystem Early childhood, graphical sign lexicons, repertoires, children’s mathematical graphics, emergent learners Young children’s thinking, sociocultural/cultural-historical theory, methodology, early childhood science Ancient remains, amphorae, mediation Why-questions, knowledge-statements, belief-statements, epistemic status of scientific theories Preparation, physics and technology teachers, science and technology education, Greece Logical-mathematical games, logical reasoning, operations and logical deductions, recurrence of logical-mathematical games in daily educational activities education IBSE, primary school, Intentio, institutional science education project Gender, relationship to scientific knowledge, ROSE project, French student, secondary school science, science education Evaluation, professional competences, initial teachers, didactic roles Canadian science museums, mission statements, museum mission statements, roles, science centres, science museums education education Monologue, egocentric speech, thought, enunciative dimension, education Relativity of simultaneity, theory of conceptual fields, secondary school, Special Theory of Relativity Adequacy training-employment, epistemology, professional identity, occupational integration, teaching practices, professional knowledge, school knowledge Science education, participatory science, authenticity of learning, teaching practices, school-scientist partnerships Methodology, exploratory data analysis, inquiry based science education, teachers representations Representations, ICT uses; ICT practices; university students; digital skills Nature of science, teacher education, key-ideas, matrix of stages and strands, didactical units Bloodstream, scientific debate, language interactions, cognitive work Inquiry-based science education, previous experience, previous knowledge Mental argumentation, property based thinking, meaning in mathematics, thinking globally, the role of symbols Prospective teachers, elementary school, pedagogical competency, scientific competency, science and technology Energy, epistemological awareness, scientific constructs, trans-phenomenological aspect, system analysis Science exhibitions, technoscientific issues, practice and process, communicating controversy in science, critical viewer, negotiation Contextual issues, history of science, effective learning, physics education Early childhood science education; children’s ideas; communication; drawing activity; group discussion; research methods; Earth’s shape; day/night cycle Spatial awareness, direction, orientation, programmable toy Bee-Bot, educational scenario, preschool children’s representations Professional development, learning trajectories, student teachers, learning trajectories, expertise Problem solving, conceptual understanding, square, construction, pre-school education Visual methods, participation, early childhood, competency, Mosaic approach Early year education, decomposition, recycling, constructivist learning environment Transition, mathematics, coping styles, higher education, assessment History and Philosophy of Science, History and Philosophy of Mathematics, HP&ST education Chemical education; car catalyst; students’ misconceptions; mental models Scientific education, continuing education, teachers, high school, participatory museum, society museums, museum of civilisation, exhibition media, community of practice education Semiotic representation registers, proportionality, problem solving, tabular register, graphical register Metalinguistic function, scientific code, early childhood education, theatre semiotics |
| spellingShingle |
Science education, scientific revolution, history and philosophy of science and Science and mathematics education education Participation, early mathematics, mathematising process, children’s initiatives, play pedagogies Primary education, investigative approach, scientific and technological activities Material and virtual resources, praxeology, task, technique, technology, register, number sense, place-value system, Chinese abacus Science, pseudoscience, expert, media, television, media format Chemical reaction, MBL, Lebanon, labwork education Spatial skills, programming cards, Scratch Jr, tangible material, code learning education Contradictions, conflicts, turning points, early childhood, science education, motives, demands, everyday concepts, scientific concepts Explanations construction, teaching, sciences, preschool Avalanche, joint action theory for didactics (JATD), physics, resources, science communication Museology, science education, archaeological museum, interdisciplinary interpretation of museum collections, archaeometry Science disaffection, aims of science education, didactics, educational policy and administration education Technology education, curriculum, gender Content analysis, qualitative research, primary school, scientific research activity PhD studies, PhD student, supervisor, research problem Science education, chemistry, conceptions, teaching practices, atomic models Health literacy, kindergarten teacher, qualitative research, content analysis Environmental education, environmental issues, social representations, word associations, environmental conceptions Indigenous education, biology education, models, living beings classification Digital technology, documentation work, programming, students’ autonomy, teacher education education Science education, precursor models construction, flotation, teaching and learning strategy, preschool education. Science, investigation, école primaire, élèves en situation de handicap Scolarisation des élèves handicapés; habiletés éducatives; gestes professionnels d’ajustement; auxiliaire de vie scolaire; école primaire française Teacher training, mathematics teaching, scheme, instrument Teaching physics, energy concept, systems of signs, inscriptions, semiotic resources Concept force, didactic transposition, mathematical approach, students’ difficulties misconceptions France, history of science, teaching, experimental sciences, Volta. Inquiry based teaching, formulation of hypotheses, buoyancy, manipulation, students' ideas Inquiry-Based Science Education, biology in early childhood education, teaching practices in kindergarten, learning practices in kindergarten Early childhood science, drawing, young children’s ideas, change of state Science Education, Mathematics Education, international testing, school curricula Problems solving, knowledge, task, declarative, procedural, hierarchy Earth science curriculum, student learning, quality assessment, validity and reliability study, survey development Health education, educational styles, biomedical model, health promotion, textbooks Learning material; knowledge structures; WPW learning model; content specialization; engagement; heteroglossia Educative robotics, primary school, learning, micro-genetics approach, activity analysis Ethical issues, Biological Sciences, PCK, Scientific Argumentation Conception, learning, complexity, ecosystem Conception, learning, complexity, ecosystem Early childhood, graphical sign lexicons, repertoires, children’s mathematical graphics, emergent learners Young children’s thinking, sociocultural/cultural-historical theory, methodology, early childhood science Ancient remains, amphorae, mediation Why-questions, knowledge-statements, belief-statements, epistemic status of scientific theories Preparation, physics and technology teachers, science and technology education, Greece Logical-mathematical games, logical reasoning, operations and logical deductions, recurrence of logical-mathematical games in daily educational activities education IBSE, primary school, Intentio, institutional science education project Gender, relationship to scientific knowledge, ROSE project, French student, secondary school science, science education Evaluation, professional competences, initial teachers, didactic roles Canadian science museums, mission statements, museum mission statements, roles, science centres, science museums education education Monologue, egocentric speech, thought, enunciative dimension, education Relativity of simultaneity, theory of conceptual fields, secondary school, Special Theory of Relativity Adequacy training-employment, epistemology, professional identity, occupational integration, teaching practices, professional knowledge, school knowledge Science education, participatory science, authenticity of learning, teaching practices, school-scientist partnerships Methodology, exploratory data analysis, inquiry based science education, teachers representations Representations, ICT uses; ICT practices; university students; digital skills Nature of science, teacher education, key-ideas, matrix of stages and strands, didactical units Bloodstream, scientific debate, language interactions, cognitive work Inquiry-based science education, previous experience, previous knowledge Mental argumentation, property based thinking, meaning in mathematics, thinking globally, the role of symbols Prospective teachers, elementary school, pedagogical competency, scientific competency, science and technology Energy, epistemological awareness, scientific constructs, trans-phenomenological aspect, system analysis Science exhibitions, technoscientific issues, practice and process, communicating controversy in science, critical viewer, negotiation Contextual issues, history of science, effective learning, physics education Early childhood science education; children’s ideas; communication; drawing activity; group discussion; research methods; Earth’s shape; day/night cycle Spatial awareness, direction, orientation, programmable toy Bee-Bot, educational scenario, preschool children’s representations Professional development, learning trajectories, student teachers, learning trajectories, expertise Problem solving, conceptual understanding, square, construction, pre-school education Visual methods, participation, early childhood, competency, Mosaic approach Early year education, decomposition, recycling, constructivist learning environment Transition, mathematics, coping styles, higher education, assessment History and Philosophy of Science, History and Philosophy of Mathematics, HP&ST education Chemical education; car catalyst; students’ misconceptions; mental models Scientific education, continuing education, teachers, high school, participatory museum, society museums, museum of civilisation, exhibition media, community of practice education Semiotic representation registers, proportionality, problem solving, tabular register, graphical register Metalinguistic function, scientific code, early childhood education, theatre semiotics SCHIELE, ALEXANDRE SCHIELE, BERNARD Archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-Archeology |
| topic_facet |
Science education, scientific revolution, history and philosophy of science and Science and mathematics education education Participation, early mathematics, mathematising process, children’s initiatives, play pedagogies Primary education, investigative approach, scientific and technological activities Material and virtual resources, praxeology, task, technique, technology, register, number sense, place-value system, Chinese abacus Science, pseudoscience, expert, media, television, media format Chemical reaction, MBL, Lebanon, labwork education Spatial skills, programming cards, Scratch Jr, tangible material, code learning education Contradictions, conflicts, turning points, early childhood, science education, motives, demands, everyday concepts, scientific concepts Explanations construction, teaching, sciences, preschool Avalanche, joint action theory for didactics (JATD), physics, resources, science communication Museology, science education, archaeological museum, interdisciplinary interpretation of museum collections, archaeometry Science disaffection, aims of science education, didactics, educational policy and administration education Technology education, curriculum, gender Content analysis, qualitative research, primary school, scientific research activity PhD studies, PhD student, supervisor, research problem Science education, chemistry, conceptions, teaching practices, atomic models Health literacy, kindergarten teacher, qualitative research, content analysis Environmental education, environmental issues, social representations, word associations, environmental conceptions Indigenous education, biology education, models, living beings classification Digital technology, documentation work, programming, students’ autonomy, teacher education education Science education, precursor models construction, flotation, teaching and learning strategy, preschool education. Science, investigation, école primaire, élèves en situation de handicap Scolarisation des élèves handicapés; habiletés éducatives; gestes professionnels d’ajustement; auxiliaire de vie scolaire; école primaire française Teacher training, mathematics teaching, scheme, instrument Teaching physics, energy concept, systems of signs, inscriptions, semiotic resources Concept force, didactic transposition, mathematical approach, students’ difficulties misconceptions France, history of science, teaching, experimental sciences, Volta. Inquiry based teaching, formulation of hypotheses, buoyancy, manipulation, students' ideas Inquiry-Based Science Education, biology in early childhood education, teaching practices in kindergarten, learning practices in kindergarten Early childhood science, drawing, young children’s ideas, change of state Science Education, Mathematics Education, international testing, school curricula Problems solving, knowledge, task, declarative, procedural, hierarchy Earth science curriculum, student learning, quality assessment, validity and reliability study, survey development Health education, educational styles, biomedical model, health promotion, textbooks Learning material; knowledge structures; WPW learning model; content specialization; engagement; heteroglossia Educative robotics, primary school, learning, micro-genetics approach, activity analysis Ethical issues, Biological Sciences, PCK, Scientific Argumentation Conception, learning, complexity, ecosystem Conception, learning, complexity, ecosystem Early childhood, graphical sign lexicons, repertoires, children’s mathematical graphics, emergent learners Young children’s thinking, sociocultural/cultural-historical theory, methodology, early childhood science Ancient remains, amphorae, mediation Why-questions, knowledge-statements, belief-statements, epistemic status of scientific theories Preparation, physics and technology teachers, science and technology education, Greece Logical-mathematical games, logical reasoning, operations and logical deductions, recurrence of logical-mathematical games in daily educational activities education IBSE, primary school, Intentio, institutional science education project Gender, relationship to scientific knowledge, ROSE project, French student, secondary school science, science education Evaluation, professional competences, initial teachers, didactic roles Canadian science museums, mission statements, museum mission statements, roles, science centres, science museums education education Monologue, egocentric speech, thought, enunciative dimension, education Relativity of simultaneity, theory of conceptual fields, secondary school, Special Theory of Relativity Adequacy training-employment, epistemology, professional identity, occupational integration, teaching practices, professional knowledge, school knowledge Science education, participatory science, authenticity of learning, teaching practices, school-scientist partnerships Methodology, exploratory data analysis, inquiry based science education, teachers representations Representations, ICT uses; ICT practices; university students; digital skills Nature of science, teacher education, key-ideas, matrix of stages and strands, didactical units Bloodstream, scientific debate, language interactions, cognitive work Inquiry-based science education, previous experience, previous knowledge Mental argumentation, property based thinking, meaning in mathematics, thinking globally, the role of symbols Prospective teachers, elementary school, pedagogical competency, scientific competency, science and technology Energy, epistemological awareness, scientific constructs, trans-phenomenological aspect, system analysis Science exhibitions, technoscientific issues, practice and process, communicating controversy in science, critical viewer, negotiation Contextual issues, history of science, effective learning, physics education Early childhood science education; children’s ideas; communication; drawing activity; group discussion; research methods; Earth’s shape; day/night cycle Spatial awareness, direction, orientation, programmable toy Bee-Bot, educational scenario, preschool children’s representations Professional development, learning trajectories, student teachers, learning trajectories, expertise Problem solving, conceptual understanding, square, construction, pre-school education Visual methods, participation, early childhood, competency, Mosaic approach Early year education, decomposition, recycling, constructivist learning environment Transition, mathematics, coping styles, higher education, assessment History and Philosophy of Science, History and Philosophy of Mathematics, HP&ST education Chemical education; car catalyst; students’ misconceptions; mental models Scientific education, continuing education, teachers, high school, participatory museum, society museums, museum of civilisation, exhibition media, community of practice education Semiotic representation registers, proportionality, problem solving, tabular register, graphical register Metalinguistic function, scientific code, early childhood education, theatre semiotics |
| format |
Online |
| author |
SCHIELE, ALEXANDRE SCHIELE, BERNARD |
| author_facet |
SCHIELE, ALEXANDRE SCHIELE, BERNARD |
| author_sort |
SCHIELE, ALEXANDRE |
| title |
Archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-Archeology |
| title_short |
Archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-Archeology |
| title_full |
Archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-Archeology |
| title_fullStr |
Archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-Archeology |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-Archeology |
| title_sort |
archaeological representations in the media: the dominance of pseudo-archeology |
| description |
Contrary to a prevalent impression within the research community, pseudo-science is far from a marginal phenomenon, far from being a mere epiphenomenon in the mediascape. As this article shows, it constitutes a dominant trend since the 2010s, especially in historical and archeological television documentaries. These documentaries enjoy high ratings, which partly explains why producers continue to make them. Thus, omnipresent in the mediascape and beyond, they outcompete the scientific consensus and the worldview it projects, regardless of the debunking efforts of researchers and journalists. Furthermore, pseudoscience publications enjoy sales volumes that even the most renown researchers can only dream of. This omnipresence of pseudoscientific discourses in the social sphere transforms representations, increases beliefs in the paranormal and encourages conspiratorial mindsets. The comparative analysis of two documentaries: Lost World of the Maya (National Geographic) (NG) and Ancient Aliens©: Secret of the Maya (AA), has revealed a great number of similarities. Their format is identical, with the same number of segments, separated by synchronous commercial breaks of equal lengths (give or take a few seconds). If they somewhat differ in terms of treatment (AA proposes to uncover a conspiracy, and NG to solve an enigma) and the structure of the argumentation (AA: narration, assertion, speculation; NG: description, question, interpretation), they both show the same archetypal images of the Maya culture and mobilize the same enunciative modalities: a voice-over commentary ensures coherence throughout, interspaced with snippets from specifically invited “experts” whose task is to illustrate, specify, justify…. the overarching narrative. And yet, although many appear on screen, their speaking time is unequally distributed, with one (NG) or two (AA) speaking the most, and the others barely a minute each in total. Thus, their similarity is such that it is accurate to speak of variations within a media format. More precisely, we can only reaffirm Marshall McLuhan’s observation that “the medium is the message”, as, beyond the scientific or pseudoscientific narrative, the very dynamic of the media predominates, blurring the distinction between the two. |
| publisher |
Urray |
| publishDate |
2022 |
| url |
https://pasithee.library.upatras.gr/review/article/view/3873 |
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AT schielealexandre archaeologicalrepresentationsinthemediathedominanceofpseudoarcheology AT schielebernard archaeologicalrepresentationsinthemediathedominanceofpseudoarcheology |
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