Using an ethnographic approach, this research assesses common assumptions in rock art research in... more Using an ethnographic approach, this research assesses common assumptions in rock art research in terms of their validity for Aboriginal rock art sites in the Barunga region of the Northern Territory, Australia. In particular, we assess the potential and limits of the commonly held assumption that open or restricted access to sites and/or the meaning of motifs can be assessed by determining the visibility of the site or image within the landscape. This research calls into question some assumptions that are core to contemporary archaeological method and theory. Our results challenge the notion that a secluded location, or difficulty of access, is needed to restrict access to a site. “Hidden” sites do not need to be hidden, as site access is controlled by a plethora of cultural rules. Moreover, sites that appear to be hidden within the landscape may be open access sites, although access may be restricted for periods of time. Conversely, sites that are visible and accessible from a lan...
Opinion article on how the Islamic State's socially mediated terrorism and how social med... more Opinion article on how the Islamic State's socially mediated terrorism and how social media responses to the Paris attacks can inadvertently further the Islamic State's aims.
Authors Claire Smith Professor of Archaeology at Flinders University Gary Jackson Anthropologist ... more Authors Claire Smith Professor of Archaeology at Flinders University Gary Jackson Anthropologist at Flinders University Disclosure Statement The authors do not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article. They also have no relevant affiliations. Flinders University Provides funding as a Member of The Conversation AU. flinders.edu.au Jobs Professor of Educational Attainment and Director University of Tasmania Scientific Officer Macquarie University Senior Research Fellow Monash University Senior Lecturer In Theatre Studies University of Melbourne Data Analyst RMIT University More Jobs Flinders University Events Law & Society Association of Australia & New Zealand Conference 2015 — Adelaide, South Australia 3rd International Conference on Ageing in a Foreign Land — Adelaide, South Australia 11th International Conference on Greek Research — Adelaide, South Australia More Events Footage of published by Islamic State of militants destroying artefacts in a museum in Mosul, Iraq. Recent postings on social media of the destruction of 3,000 year-old Assyrian sculptures by ISIS highlights a new threat to cultural heritage in times of conflict.The trend to sequestered terrorist actions, combined with the centrality of visual images in communication media, could make the destruction of cultural icons an effective tool for those seeking to publicise a cause.
A 36 page submission on CDEP Discussion Paper March 2008 Review of Community Development Employme... more A 36 page submission on CDEP Discussion Paper March 2008 Review of Community Development Employment Program, submitted to Department of Premier and Cabinet, Australian government. Written by C. Smith, G. Jackson and E. Cummings.
Using the Islamic State/Da'esh as a case study, we identify the genesis of a new form of terr... more Using the Islamic State/Da'esh as a case study, we identify the genesis of a new form of terrorism arising from the convergence of networked social media and changes in the forms of conflict. Socially mediated terrorism is defined as ‘the use of social and networked media to increase the impact of violent acts undertaken to further a social, political and/or religious cause with the aim of creating physical, emotional or psychological suffering that extends beyond the immediate audience'. Our analysis distinguishes three strategies involving cultural heritage. The first is smoke, mirrors and mock destruction, which exaggerates perceptions of power and tests the impact of potential destruction. The second is shock, awe and censure, which uses international outrage to cloak the Islamic State with an aura of invincibility and highlight the impotence of its opponents. The third is financing the Kaliphate, which has transformed the ad hoc looting of archaeological sites into a bu...
Smith, CE & Jackson, GT, 2008. The Ethics of Collaboration. Whose Culture? Whose Intellectual Pro... more Smith, CE & Jackson, GT, 2008. The Ethics of Collaboration. Whose Culture? Whose Intellectual Property? Who Benefits?. In Collaboration in Archaeological Practice: Engaging Descendent Communities. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, pp. 171-191.
Using an ethnographic approach, this research assesses common assumptions in rock art research in... more Using an ethnographic approach, this research assesses common assumptions in rock art research in terms of their validity for Aboriginal rock art sites in the Barunga region of the Northern Territory, Australia. In particular, we assess the potential and limits of the commonly held assumption that open or restricted access to sites and/or the meaning of motifs can be assessed by determining the visibility of the site or image within the landscape. This research calls into question some assumptions that are core to contemporary archaeological method and theory. Our results challenge the notion that a secluded location, or difficulty of access, is needed to restrict access to a site. “Hidden” sites do not need to be hidden, as site access is controlled by a plethora of cultural rules. Moreover, sites that appear to be hidden within the landscape may be open access sites, although access may be restricted for periods of time. Conversely, sites that are visible and accessible from a lan...
Opinion article on how the Islamic State's socially mediated terrorism and how social med... more Opinion article on how the Islamic State's socially mediated terrorism and how social media responses to the Paris attacks can inadvertently further the Islamic State's aims.
Authors Claire Smith Professor of Archaeology at Flinders University Gary Jackson Anthropologist ... more Authors Claire Smith Professor of Archaeology at Flinders University Gary Jackson Anthropologist at Flinders University Disclosure Statement The authors do not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article. They also have no relevant affiliations. Flinders University Provides funding as a Member of The Conversation AU. flinders.edu.au Jobs Professor of Educational Attainment and Director University of Tasmania Scientific Officer Macquarie University Senior Research Fellow Monash University Senior Lecturer In Theatre Studies University of Melbourne Data Analyst RMIT University More Jobs Flinders University Events Law & Society Association of Australia & New Zealand Conference 2015 — Adelaide, South Australia 3rd International Conference on Ageing in a Foreign Land — Adelaide, South Australia 11th International Conference on Greek Research — Adelaide, South Australia More Events Footage of published by Islamic State of militants destroying artefacts in a museum in Mosul, Iraq. Recent postings on social media of the destruction of 3,000 year-old Assyrian sculptures by ISIS highlights a new threat to cultural heritage in times of conflict.The trend to sequestered terrorist actions, combined with the centrality of visual images in communication media, could make the destruction of cultural icons an effective tool for those seeking to publicise a cause.
A 36 page submission on CDEP Discussion Paper March 2008 Review of Community Development Employme... more A 36 page submission on CDEP Discussion Paper March 2008 Review of Community Development Employment Program, submitted to Department of Premier and Cabinet, Australian government. Written by C. Smith, G. Jackson and E. Cummings.
Using the Islamic State/Da'esh as a case study, we identify the genesis of a new form of terr... more Using the Islamic State/Da'esh as a case study, we identify the genesis of a new form of terrorism arising from the convergence of networked social media and changes in the forms of conflict. Socially mediated terrorism is defined as ‘the use of social and networked media to increase the impact of violent acts undertaken to further a social, political and/or religious cause with the aim of creating physical, emotional or psychological suffering that extends beyond the immediate audience'. Our analysis distinguishes three strategies involving cultural heritage. The first is smoke, mirrors and mock destruction, which exaggerates perceptions of power and tests the impact of potential destruction. The second is shock, awe and censure, which uses international outrage to cloak the Islamic State with an aura of invincibility and highlight the impotence of its opponents. The third is financing the Kaliphate, which has transformed the ad hoc looting of archaeological sites into a bu...
Smith, CE & Jackson, GT, 2008. The Ethics of Collaboration. Whose Culture? Whose Intellectual Pro... more Smith, CE & Jackson, GT, 2008. The Ethics of Collaboration. Whose Culture? Whose Intellectual Property? Who Benefits?. In Collaboration in Archaeological Practice: Engaging Descendent Communities. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, pp. 171-191.
This is a brief discussion of the archaeology of polite society in Japan. We are planning to dev... more This is a brief discussion of the archaeology of polite society in Japan. We are planning to develop it as an academic paper, so would appreciate any feedback that people can find the time to give. The Conversation article can be found at: https://theconversation.com/the-archaeology-of-polite-society-65958
A 36 page submission on CDEP Discussion Paper March 2008 Review of Community Development Employme... more A 36 page submission on CDEP Discussion Paper March 2008 Review of Community Development Employment Program, submitted to Department of Premier and Cabinet, Australian government. Written by C. Smith, G. Jackson and E. Cummings.
In V. Apaydin (ed.) Shared Knowledge, Shared Power. Engaging Local and Indigenous Heritage. pp. 1-28. New York: Springer., 2018
This paper presents a new conceptual framework for the ownership of cultural and intellectual pro... more This paper presents a new conceptual framework for the ownership of cultural and intellectual property that is developed by researchers and Indigenous peoples. We argue that ethnographic research involves a reformulation of knowledge, the creation of an 'intellectual soup' that arises from a reformulation of two intellectual traditions and bodies of knowledge. We conclude that all of the people who played a major role in contributing ingredients, tweaking the recipe or providing facilities or equipment have some rights in that intellectual soup. This paper contributes to discussions by archaeologists, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders who are seeking to develop more equitable and successful resolutions and policies regarding the cultural and intellectual property issues. The conceptual framework should help others to constructively negotiate cultural and intellectual property issues, foster positive relationships and head off adversarial or exploitative situations. Though the case study is that of an Australian Aboriginal group the issues we raise have international applicability.
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https://theconversation.com/the-archaeology-of-polite-society-65958