Responding to Apocalypto
Wed Nov 7th, 4:30-6
Do, and if so, how should academics engage with popular culture? Using the example of the Mel Gisbon movie Apocalypto, we will be discussing the representation of indigenous peoples and the past in popular culture and how - or whether - as anthropologists we can contribute to debates raised by such representations. As some background, we have a list of readings below. We will not be showing the movie during the discussion, so please arrange to see it ahead of time. The list of readings on this page is by no means definitive - if you have others that you would like to suggest, please email Mary (maryleighton@uchicago.edu) before Tuesday evening to have them added to the website.
Official responses
Archaeologists Shortly after the movie was released, the following statement appeared on the website of the
Society for American Archaeology:
The Committee on Native American Relations of the Society for American Archaeology recently asked the Board to issue a comment on the motion picture release, Apocalypto. The Society for American Archaeology does not ordinarily comment on works of fiction, even where those works are reputed to be based in part on historical or archaeological research. The Society remains committed, however, to supporting responsible research into the past and responsible depictions of the past that foster respect for diversity in human behavior and culture. While we neither condone nor support individual works, whether commercial releases such as Apocalypto, or not-for-profit releases aired on television or radio or through other media, we do support the efforts of our membership to work in collaboration with film, print, and other media providers to ensure that representations of the past are based on current, responsible research, and to uphold the SAA's commitment to diversity and ethical behavior in the archaeological community.
The statement has since been removed, but Sonya Atalay from the Committee on Native American Relations has allowed WALAC to publish the following email, which details the request sent by the committee to the SAA board.
I am writing to ask that you forward a request from the Committee on Native American Relations (CNAR) to the SAA Executive Board. I have recently had a number of lengthy discussions with the CNAR membership, a number of SAA members, and a large and diverse group of Native American community members regarding the film 'Apocalypto'. These discussions have focussed on the problematic nature of the film - particularly the violent and historically inaccurate portrayal of the Maya, combined with the complete lack of representation of the achievements of the culture, and the offensive message it erroneously sends in depicting christianity as the saving grace for the Maya.
The Committee on Native American Relations finds the film offensive and harmful as it provides an innaccurate view of a group of Indigenous people whose descendents stand to be adversely affected by this portrayal of their culture in the public conciousness. I think it is critical that the scientific archaeological community take a stand against such inaccuracies - in fact, I would argue, that it is precisely this responsibility that the public places in our hands in funding the work we do. In cases such as these, it is our duty to make the problems inherent in this film known publically.
For these reasons I am writing on behalf of the CNAR to request that the SAA release a press statement pubically denouncing the film.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to
help the SAA in this process.
Thank you,
Sonya Atalay
Chair, Committee on Native American Relations
The SAA board responded by publishing the statement above (explaining its reasons for not condemning the film) on its website, but has since also removed this statement.
Anthropologists The American Anthropological Association has published several articles over the summer about the film, including those below. The Presidential session at the AAA meeting in Washington later this November will also be discussing this movie under the title "Critiquing Apocalypto: An Anthropological Response to the Perpetuation of Inequality in Popular Media"
Judith M Maxwell, "Apocalypto: Then and Now" Anthropology News May 2007, Vol. 48, No. 5, pp. 38-38
Robey Callahan "Apocalypto in Cobá" Anthropology News September 2007, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 28-29
Nexahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli "Gibson's Apocalypto as an Act Against the Maya" Anthropology News September 2007, Vol. 48, No. 6, pp. 29-30
Responses from individuals
The Mayan linguist Barbara MacLeod who worked with the Mel Gibson, in response to criticism of the film
An interview with archaeologist Cynthia Robin (Northwestern) on "Apocalypto's Portrayal of Mayan Culture". And an article co-written with archaeologist Mary Weismantel (Northwestern) orginally published in the Chicago Sun Times.
Media responses
Prof Alicia Estrada, an anthropologist at California State University, confronts Mel Gibson during a public lecture.
A selection of media reviews of the movie
Review from the popular Archaeology magazine
From the anthropological blogosphere
A round-up of Savage Minds reactions
