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Archaeology isn’t inherently sexy.

Dirty? Sure, if you mean dusty. But, believe me, it’s more plotting grids and collecting pottery shards than whipping Nazis and dramatically retrieving hats.

That’s what makes the character of Indiana Jones so great. He’s a seemingly stuffy and bow-tied professor moonlighting as a treasure hunter and righter of archaeological wrongs. And he always gets the girl.
For me, Indy is a kind of personal pop culture icon because he was the first recognizable manifestation of what my parents do. I grew up with an archaeologist/anthropologist mom and dad. It’s not the easiest thing to explain to people, especially fellow first-graders. That’s why Indiana Jones meant and continues to mean so much to me. I suddenly had someone I could reference when discussing my parents’ somewhat complicated and, on the surface, supremely scholarly, profession. And he was cool, way important for grade school.

I was probably around 6 when I first saw the Indiana Jones films, starting with “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” I remember watching it as a family. We had recorded it in the early days of HBO, on VCR, and it’s the first movie that to me was completely thrilling and exciting and intelligent. At that time, I was beginning to understand just want my parents did, and because of the films I began to fantasize that, along with teaching and local digs, my folks were secretly shipping off to the Amazon or Middle Eastern caves on random dangerous quests while battling dastardly villains and bantering humorously. So what if my parents really didn’t find Biblical artifacts and have fistfights on top of helicopters — Indiana Jones did, and they did what Indy did.

I remember seeing the third film, “The Last Crusade,” as a late afternoon matinee in San Diego with my dad. I was 7. He was just as excited as I was. It was a bonding moment, and rarely do bonding moments involve watching someone disintegrate on film. I always thought my dad secretly fantasized about being Indiana Jones. Now I realize he and my mom merely appreciated the films, which gave them free rein to point out archaeological accuracies and inaccuracies outside the classroom and yet still love Indy like I did. Even today, the series remains one of those things I would stop and watch on TV even though I’ve owned them all on DVD for years. I still smile when the music plays and Indy flashes his smug smile or makes his 1930s-esque action hero comments. It’s escapism, but for me, watching those films is oddly comforting, like a warm blanket or home cooking.

When it was announced that Indy would make a return after 19 years, I was ecstatic. The first people I called? My parents. They had also heard the news, and we dorkily rejoiced in a way only people of archaeological inclinations can do.

Of course, expectations for the film have been so high, a tribute to just how many people love Indy. But my parents and I, just happy he was returning, kept our own expectations low. And yes, the new film is far from perfect, but honestly, all that matters is Indy is still alive and kicking. You see, it wasn’t just some movie from my childhood. It was my childhood.
Check today’s b for a review of the movie.

Jordan Bartel is assistant editor at b. E-mail him at jordan@bthesite.com

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