Like many, I
sometimes watch the Ancient Aliens
show on the History Channel. Here are
some facts about it.
Fact 1: It doesn’t bother me that it is all a farce—I
know that it is and treat it as just that.
It is mindless entertainment, and that
is its usefulness to me. A good laugh is
always welcome.
Fact 2: The show informs us much about who WE are. I’ll return to that shortly.
Fact 3: Some archaeologists and historians get all
upset about these types of misinformation being broadcast across our
culture. To them we should only portray “truths.”
3b) But, philosophers don’t even agree
what “truths” are, 3c) so said “truths” are just academic consensus about
certain ideas. 3d) Academics are often
wrong, just look at current economists.
Fact 4: I
despise academic believers as much as I do religious zealots.
Fact 5: A good academic is a cynic.
Fact 6: Some researchers have made good careers out
of debunking the ideas and arguments of the “wackoes”. Thus, the wackoes have usefulness. They exist so that others can live to debunk
them.
Fact 8: Here is an excellent website about debunking
the show and its back-story. http://ancientaliensdebunked.com/ They
provide an excellent 3-hour video correcting many of the wrong assertions of
the show. Enjoy it; it is very well done. (BTW, the video also demonstrates how earlier
histories spread non-truths, supporting Fact 3).
Fact 9: The History Channel is a business trying to
make a profit. They know that their audience
isn’t going to hang out to watch endless streams of pure documentaries. They have to jazz it up and Ancient Aliens does that quite
well. Without such a show, the channel may
perish. Do not berate them.
Fact 10: The proponents of the ancient alien theory
are con-men. They will do anything and
everything to sell their books and videos.
Lying is common. They are
laughing all the way to the bank.
Fact 11: In our contemporary Dionysian culture, the main
trend is that the distinction between fact and fiction is blurred. Fact or “truth” is less important than the appeal
of the argument or story. The few debunkers
are behaving within a counter trend.
To
Americans, Ancient Aliens is appealing
because:
Fiction
1: We are an advanced culture. We are smarter, better, than those ancient
brutes that needed alien help to get by.
Our technology proves it--and, if aliens come here, today or in the
past, then they must be advanced beyond us.
Fiction
2: Our culture is superior; it is okay
for us to judge other cultures, especially ancient ones, by our contemporary
standards.
Fiction
3: It’s okay to interpret the past using
contemporary complex metaphors. Why
should I take the time to learn their complex metaphors? If I look at an ancient fresco and see an
image that reminds me of a light bulb then it must be an image of a light bulb.
Fiction 4. When two species are interbred you often get bigger, "giant," offspring like ligers and Nephilim. Duh.
Fiction 4. When two species are interbred you often get bigger, "giant," offspring like ligers and Nephilim. Duh.
In our Dionysian
culture, a compelling story is more powerful than a fact. Welcome to 21st century romanticism.
