With each Indiana Jones film comes the obligatory discussion of the title character’s merits relative to his field. So, in anticipation of the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, there’s a story from NPR’s All Things Considered program that calls into question Indy’s heroic deeds. Is he a true archaeologist or is he nothing more than an adventuring thief, no better than the baddies he means to thwart? Real-life archaeologist Winifred Creamer appears to think the latter:
“You could say Indiana Jones is the worst thing to happen to archeology, because Indiana Jones has no respect for anybody and anything. Indiana Jones walks a fine line between what’s an archaeologist and what’s a professional looter.”
The story somewhat follows Indy’s fluctuating view on the matter, which is evidenced by his inconsistent words and actions throughout the first three films. Of course, as the story mentions, archaeologists and treasure hunters of the past were often considered heroes in their time only to be later labeled thieves by the nations or civilizations whose artifacts were taken. One of Creamer’s team, 17-year-old Dylan Breternitz, for whom archeology is the family business, comes more to the defense of Indiana Jones’ conduct:
“(Indy) does everything that all archaeologists would like to do,” says Bredernitz. “Go on crazy adventures, fight bad people, not steal stuff but save it from being destroyed by the bad guys.”
It isn’t like Indy keeps the artifacts for himself or tries to sell them to dealers, right? He secures them for view in a museum or, in the case of the Ark of the Covenant, to be stored away, either outcome being better than in Hitler’s hands.
NPR’s story also touches on the issue of Indy’s influence on young people (like Bredernitz) to become archaeologists, a good and bad thing for the actual profession. Certainly there are more people turned onto the field because of the films, but a number of people also apparently get the wrong idea of what the job is actually like.
Frustrating, sure, but helpful, too. When I took a class called Art & Architecture of Egypt, the professor constantly put things into perspective for students who’d seen the Indiana Jones trilogy, especially when describing her own archaeological endeavors. For me, a movie dork who relates nearly everything in real life to reel life, it made sense. But I also think such comparisons downplay the worth of the real-life profession.
Then again, I downplay the worth of film criticism to everyone who thinks this job is all fun and glamor, too.
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