Session: #481

Discussion session: session with pre-circulated papers

This session is going to discuss the role of traditional, alternative and new media in the communication of archaeology as a profession and as an interpretation of societies of today and yesterday. Technologies of information and communication (TIC) are central in the way we do archaeology today but their uses are rarely discussed amongst archaeology professionals.
Our aim is to address the issues of communication between archaeologists or amateurs and the wider public through TIC. In this context, we would like to discuss the roles of traditional media (journals, specialized or not, conferences, exhibitions, etc.); new media (Youtube history channels, MOOC, TEDx, blogs, social networks, apps, etc.) and alternative media ((video-) games, comics, etc.).
This will allow the participants to reflect upon the following questions: what is said about archaeology in the mediatic field? With which means does archaeology express itself? How do new media create discourses on archaeology and what are the contents of these discourses? What are the opportunities (e-learning, etc.), limits (access to electronic devices and internet, etc.) and threats (fiction VS reality, sensationalism, etc.) of the digital ways of communicate on science?
Underpinning issues that will be discussed are the growing phenomenon of “Do it Yourself” science, interpretation and transmission - that considers itself more democratic - and the relative emancipation of “knowledge producers” from the scientific institutions and its consequences.
The session will be very participative. It might be a pre-circulated papers session to have enough time to organise a workshop with the attendants.

TIC Newmedia traditionalmedia MOOC youtube

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Aurélia Basterrechea (Switzerland) ¹

Ana Sofia Fonseca (Portugal) ^2,3