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originally posted in:Art and Stuff
originally posted in: Modern Mythology
4/25/2015 6:14:08 AM
3
A problem I have with anthropology in some of my classes is that when asked about the potential significance of a given artifact, a majority of the students will immediately answer something about religion. While that may be the case every once in a while, a good majority of it can be attributed to simpler things. The Easter island heads for example are commonly associated with gods. Other interpretations say they were to ward off outsiders. However, given [b]context[/b] these may more likely be markers for a given family in a "watch over us" sense. These statues have little implying worship and they all face inland. Context is important to interpretation. Popularity implies importance but not reason. We have a written language with records of [i]a Superman[/i] and the [b]comic book superhero[/b] [i]superman[/i]. Add several things which without proper contextual interpretation can be seen as religious fervor (Comic con and similar) which have well documented purposes to explain the context for most things. Archaeologists have the trouble of interpreting the past through artifacts that are difficult to interpret due to a variety of reasons. However with the introduction of written languages and record keeping, the things referenced in those writings became easier to interpret. In conclusion, it may be possible that future observers see our interest in things like [i]Superman[/i] as religious worship, but if they are worth their salt they should be able to understand our writings about popular culture and the place creations such as [i]Superman[/i] have in it.
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