Academic critique and the need for an open mind (a response to Kristiansen).

Academic critique and the need for an open mind (a response to Kristiansen). Given that my explicit position is the precise opposite, KristianKristiansen's claim that I was lacking 'any sense of socialand academic responsibility', that 'politics are absent'from my work, and that I was proposing a vision in which 'there areno ethical limits' verges on the defamatory. Should I have writtenthat there is a political dimension to everything discussed in my books?That nothing I said should hold professional archaeologists and othersback from problematising and critiquing the stories and themes that areassociated with the subject of archaeology in popular culture? That acritical assessment of the audiences' interpretations and possibleimplications and consequences of particular meanings of archaeology area social duty of archaeologists and that this is the one reservationwithout which archaeological stories, however popular, should never betold? All these statements are from one of the books Kristiansendisagrees with so strongly (Holtorf 2007a: 145-6). I very much agree about the need for academic critique regardingall instances in which archaeology or the past occur in thepresent--which is why I have referred more than once toKristiansen's brilliant, classic article about the past and itsgreat might (Kristiansen 1993). Contrary to what he claims, my books donot only contain critical discussions of the popular consumption ofarchaeology and the past but also unambiguous acknowledgments of theirproblematic political and ideological applications (e.g. Holtorf 2005:50-3, 139-40; 2007a: 65-6, 83-4, 124-6, 146-7). Competing meanings,claims and uses of archaeological monuments are the subject of two fullchapters (Holtorf 2005: chapters 5 and 6). Kristiansen appears toconfuse the necessary critical distance in any study of popular culturewith the expectation of a negative judgment about it. It is veryworrying if studies that do not condemn popular culture and theircommercial applications are by default described as 'deeplyconservative' and accused of advocating 'an ultra-liberalmarket ideology freed from political regulation and academiccritique' leaving people 'at the mercy of the free market andits forces'. In fact, although the term occurs in some quotationsand there is talk of flea-markets, Viking markets, market sharesconcerning TV audiences and segmented markets in relation to themeparks, I neither explicitly discussed economic 'markets' in mybooks nor is there a single reference to the question of whether anymarket should be 'free' or not (but see Holtorf 2006a: 25). Itis not my position that archaeology should depend entirely on anunregulated commercial market. Kristiansen's kneejerk reaction kneejerk reactionn (fig) → instinktive Reaktion f,which rests on simplistic sim��plism?n.The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications.[French simplisme, from simple, simple, from Old French; see simple dichotomies (as discussed in Holtorf 2007a:113), reflects largely his own preconceived pre��con��ceive?tr.v. pre��con��ceived, pre��con��ceiv��ing, pre��con��ceivesTo form (an opinion, for example) before possessing full or adequate knowledge or experience. judgments. Given my own occupation as an academic archaeologist, it would bebizarre if I did not consider myself as an archaeologist, if I arguedthat 'there is no need of academic archaeologists', or if Idenied the significance of academic expertise in general. All this, too,is Kristiansen's own fiction. As an academic researcher I adoptedan anthropological approach and an ethnographical methodology in theresearch underlying my books (Holtorf 2005: 9; 2007a: 13). I was wellqualified for such an analysis given that Ethnologie (the Germanequivalent to social anthropology) was one of two subsidiary subjects inmy initial Magister MAGISTER. A master, a ruler, one whose learning and position makes him superior to others, thus: one who has attained to a high degree, or eminence, in science and literature, is called a master; as, master of arts. exam based on five years of study. Parts of historicpreservation Historic preservation is the act of maintaining and repairing existing historic materials and the retention of a property's form as it has evolved over time. When considering the United States Department of Interior's interpretation: "Preservation calls for the existing form, and heritage management depend on theoretical foundationsthat need rethinking, and the problem will not go away by attempting toundermine the expertise of those trying to discuss--and unravel--some ofthe emerging knots (see also Holtorf 2006b; 2007b; Holtorf & Ortman2008; Lowenthal 2005). Kristiansen does not say what I have been misunderstanding and inwhat way I have been 'ignorant about archaeologicalpreservation'. Certainly the points he raised nearly a decade ago Ianswered then (Holtorf 1999). Instead of introducing new arguments heattacks positions I do not hold. What has gone wrong? I cannot accountfor Kristiansen's behaviour, but I suspect that some academics, asthey get older, find it frustrating to see familiar positions beingchallenged and discourses changing in unforeseen ways. DoesKristiansen's comment thus reflect his own academic limitations? But all is not lost. Kristiansen argues that archaeology'spopularity originated in knowledge of the 'real' past suppliedby scientific archaeology. According to according toprep.1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.2. In keeping with: according to instructions.3. an alternative view, however, itwas rather the other way around, with the growth and establishment ofacademic archaeology owing much to a long-standing popular fascinationwith archaeological themes (Holtorf 2005:12). Rather than indulging inacademic pie-throwing, we should be studying such important issuestogether and with entirely open minds. References HOLTORF, C. 1999. Defining the real issues--a short response toKristian Kristiansen. Arkeologen 5 (1): 9-12. --2005. From Stonehenge to Las Vegas--Archaeology as popularculture. Walnut Creek Walnut Creek,residential city (1990 pop. 60,569), Contra Costa co., W Calif., in the San Francisco Bay area; inc. 1914. It is the trade and shipping center of an extensive agricultural area where walnuts are among the major product. (CA): AltaMira. --2006a. Getting to the bottom of things: a reply to Mads DengsoJessen. Arkaologisk Forum 15: 24-6. --2006b. Can less be more? Heritage in the age of terrorism. PublicArchaeology 5: 101-9. --2007a. Archaeology is a brand! The meaning of archaeology inpopular culture. Oxford: Archaeopress. --2007b. What does not move any hearts--why should it be saved? TheDenkmalpflegediskussion in Germany. International Journal of CulturalProperty 14(1): 33-55. HOLTORF, C. & O. ORTMAN. 2008. Endangerment and conservationethos in natural and cultural heritage: the case of zoos andarchaeological sites. International Journal of Heritage Studies 14(1):74-90. KRISTIANSEN, K. 1993. The past and its great might: an essay on theuse of the past. Journal of European Archaeology 1: 3-32. --1999. The consumer's past?--A critique of 'The past asa renewable resource Noun 1. renewable resource - any natural resource (as wood or solar energy) that can be replenished naturally with the passage of timenatural resource, natural resources - resources (actual and potential) supplied by nature .' Arkeologen 5(1): 4-8. LOWENTHAL, D. 2005. Why sanctions seldom work: reflections oncultural property internationalism in��ter��na��tion��al��ism?n.1. The condition or quality of being international in character, principles, concern, or attitude.2. A policy or practice of cooperation among nations, especially in politics and economic matters. . International Journal of CulturalProperty 12: 393-423. SHANKS For other meanings, see Shanks (disambiguation)The shanks and tattlers are wading bird species in a number of genera characterised by a medium length bill and long, often brightly coloured legs. , M. 1992. Experiencing the past: on the character ofarchaeology. London: Routledge. --2004. Archaeology and politics, in J. Bintliff (ed.) A Companionto archaeology. Oxford: Blackwell. Cornelius Holtorf, School of Human Sciences, University of Kalmar The University of Kalmar is focused on undergraduate and professional education in a variety of fields, including science, technology, social science, health studies, and business studies. ,391 82 Kalmar, Sweden (Email: cornelius.holtorf@hik.se)