I hold a Bachelors degree in Anthropology from one of the best schools in North America. I can honestly say that if not for Indiana Jones I would not have that degree. I am proud to hold that degree. Indiana Jones may have influenced my decision to go after that degree, but an inborn love of history and realizing that it can be tangible is what made me obtain the degree.
From a young age I was raised with Indiana Jones and his adventures. I watched the movies enrapted by ther adventure, and sucked into history. I thought at first that being an archaeologist meant a life of adventure, but it did not take too long to realize that it was more book and research oriented.
This did nothing to dampen my interest however. The trap had been set and a career in Archeaology was what I wanted. I did all the course work and got to hear of teachers first hand experiences while on site. While on a dig the crazy things that would happen. The joy of a discovery. Funny stories from archaeologists in the past. The brain storming involved in deciphering ancient symbols, artifacts, and ruins.
Archeaology became more interesting than an adventure. It became a puzzle to solve on a historical level. It became a way to understand our past, why we do the things we do, and essentially where we come from. It became a whole new way of looking at and understanding the world.
While fedoras, whips, and bomber jackets might not be the tools of the trade. Intelligence, creativity, puzzle solving, libraries, exotic locations, and a good sense of humor are. To have a career in the field of Anthropology, no matter the reason you may have entered it, you need to love history, research, and puzzles.
That love of history is evident in the Indiana Jones movies. In the first three, there is adventure, but if there wasnt would we like the movies? Probably not. However by mixing in adventure, mystery, bad guys, and quips, we also got a taste of history. That is what Indiana Jones is really about. Teaching the audience a love of history, and most importantly not to take themselves too seriously.
I know several people from the program I was in all had the same story. We went into Anthropology because of Indiana Jones. We stayed in Anthropology because we developed a true love of history. That is why Indiana Jones is good for Archaeology. He teaches, as do the movies, to love history and respect it. What better lesson to teach an individual than to look at history and learn from it?
