93153 - Archaeology, Media, and the Public (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have an in-depth knowledge of the relationship between archaeological research, cultural heritage, media (meaning both traditional and new digital media) and the public. They will be critically aware of the strategies of communication and dissemination of archaeological knowledge adopted by the various people involved in the job of dissemination and enhancement. The knowledge acquired will make students proficient in assessing, monitoring and reporting in the media on communication activities relating to archaeology and the cultural heritage.

Course contents

The course addresses the relationship between archaeology, media and the public in the complex process of archaeological communication.

The first part of the course will examine the individual concepts and the evolution of archaeological communication over time, with a specific focus on the last twenty years and the role of digital dissemination.

The topics covered specifically will be:

• Definition of archaeological communication;
• Definition of media;
• Overview of the main media;
• Public archaeology and "archaeological" public;
• Main forms of digital dissemination.

The second part of the course will consider the specific case of the KALAM Project, specifically the different ways of communicating to the public the archaeological realities present in the territory of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Non-attending Students are invited to study the specific Bibliography or to contact the teacher to arrange an alternative program and bibliography.

Readings/Bibliography

BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS AND NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

1. Colwell-Chanthaphonh, C. 2010. Archaeology and the Problem of the Public. American Anthropologist 112. Wiley: 144–45.
2. Henson, D. 2013. Digital media and public engagement in archaeology: an opinion piece. Archäologische Informationen 36: 13–20.
3. Huhtamo, E. & D. Galili. 2020. The pasts and prospects of media archaeology. Early Popular Visual Culture 18. Routledge: 333–39. LINK
4. Moshenska, G. 2017. Key Concepts in Public Archaeology. London: UCL Press. LINK
5. Parikka, J. 2023. What is Media Archaeology, 10 years later. Perspectivas de la Comunicacion 16: 1–10.
6. Schofield, J. 2010. Archaeology and contemporary society: introduction. World Archaeology 42. Taylor & Francis, Ltd.: 325–27.

Selected articles from the Internet Archaeology journal

Further readings will be provided during the course and after the seminars on specific topics by international specialists.

 

Teaching methods

Teaching method consists in frontal lectures and collective discussions on the treated topics and the suggested reading

Students are strongly encouraged to actively take part in the discussions.

Specialists will be involved during the course to speak about specific topics.

The course and lectures by specialists are entirely in English.

Assessment methods

Student can choose between the oral exam or the preparation of an essay that deals with the topics discussed during the course.

The exam is oral and consists of a verification of the knowledge acquired during the course through the ability to briefly and critically explain the topics addressed based on the content of the bibliography and the teaching materials provided (attending students) or the alternative program agreed with the teacher (non-attending students).

In the case of the essay, the topic must be agreed in advance with the Teacher, and delivered at least one week before the exam session.

The evaluation method out of thirty will be the same for attending and non-attending students and will be based on: knowledge of the topics; clarity in presentation; ability to synthesize; correct use of terminology; ability to formulate and develop critical and rigorous arguments of the topics discussed during the course.

Excellent knowledge and mastery of the above are necessary to obtain an excellent grade.

A student who attends at least 75% of the lectures is considered to be attending.

Teaching tools

The lectures and seminars of external specialists will be accompanied by slides, images, and documents made available to the Class on the VIRTUALE platform of the course.

The bibliography and readings for the evaluation exam will also be available to the Class on the VIRTUALE platform in compliance with copyright regulations. Other readings may be eventually available online or in the UNIBO libraries.

Students who, for reasons dependent on disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA), need compensatory or dispensatory tools are invited to contact the appropriate office (LINK) and communicate such needs via email to the Teacher before the start of the course.

Students with such needs will be supported during the course and in preparing for the exam through individual interviews with the Teacher, bibliography in a foreign language, concept maps.

 

Office hours

See the website of Simone Mantellini