Click my poorly drawn image to go to the SAA submission system.
The submission deadline for the 2015 SAAs in San Francisco is September 11! Check out the title and abstract of the Social Media symposium I've set up and feel free to submit a paper.
Not Just Blogging Archaeology - Media and Social Media’s Influence on Archaeology
Since the time of Renfrew and Binford, archaeology as a profession has embraced both a scientific methodology and the new tools science offers. From radiocarbon dating and geophysics to 3D imaging, these tools have enhanced the way we understand and communicate the human past. Now, the internet and 21st century technology offers new, multivocal venues through which we can relay archaeological information to the profession, enthusiasts, and the general public. From blogging and podcasting to YouTube videos and television series, communicating archaeology has never been easier. Anyone can start a blog, shoot some video, or record a podcast. Technology has reduced the cost of access and can allow archaeologists to speak directly to the public and peers. This session seeks to ask the following questions: is the use of social media helping or hurting archaeology? Are there drawbacks? Have we created an easy resource of archaeological information for looters? How has social media, via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, to name a few, influenced archaeology in practice and the public’s view of archaeology? This session solicits input from bloggers, podcasters, and film producers, each with a unique perspective rooted in the medium they’ve chosen to represent archaeology.
We're now excepting papers on ANYTHING related to communicating Archaeology through various forms of media and social networking. Be creative! Below is one example of a paper we could use:
Instagram - Benefits and Best Practices
What would a paper on Instagram entail? I'd go through and show what sorts of pictures can be found using several popular hashtags. Two that come to mind are #archaeology and #crmarch. There are many others, though. You could also talk about Instagram best practices. For example, what type of metadata does Instagram strip out of photos and what stays in? What can you do with your photos to mitigate the chances of looters gaining access to whatever it is you're taking pictures of?
I'm doing a paper on podcasting in archaeology. As far as I know, it's never been done. I'm also working on a live recording of the CRM Archaeology Podcast for the SAAs. If some of my co-hosts can't make it I might be looking for some guest hosts. Keep your ears open for an update!
Thanks for reading and I'll see you in San Francisco!