Beyond the Treasure Hunt: The Harmful Effects of Exoticizing Non-Western Cultures in Hollywood Films

As a budding cinephile, I was once enamored with the Lara Croft and Indiana Jones franchises. However, as I matured and became more educated, I became increasingly cognizant of the problematic elements present in these films.

Both franchises have a tendency to exoticize and romanticize non-Western cultures, with Lara Croft and Indiana Jones travelling to far-flung locales and encountering people from different cultures, often portrayed as simplistic stereotypes or one-dimensional villains. This type of representation is not only inaccurate, but it also perpetuates damaging stereotypes and does a disservice to the real-world cultures and peoples being depicted.

Another issue with these movies is the normalization of pillaging artifacts in the name of exploration, which serves to promote colonialism. These films glorify Western heroes who recklessly trample over precious sites, reducing the study of other cultures to a frenzied search for treasure. This not only perpetuates a damaging narrative, but also fails to recognize the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

While the character of Indiana Jones undeniably raised the profile of archaeology, and Lara Croft could potentially inspire young women to pursue the field, both figures demonstrate a lack of respect for the cultures whose histories they plunder. They propagate a troublesome smash-and-grab mentality towards invaluable artifacts and portray themselves as heroes.

The problem is that these films rarely take the time to consider the actual cultures from which artifacts are being plundered. Indiana Jones is presented as a professor, yet we rarely see him engaging with the living descendants of the communities he is supposedly studying. Artifacts that have cultural and spiritual significance are often portrayed as either mysterious or priceless treasures, existing to be solved or sold, rather than preserved as a tangible link to our past. Perhaps the genre should instead feature characters like Killmonger in Black Panther, who challenge the actions of archaeologist-adventurers who have gone too far.

It is essential to recognize that the prosperity of Europe and North America was, in part, derived from plundered riches - not only gold and diamonds, but also the human beings who were reduced to commodities through the horrors of slavery. Unfortunately, Western culture and films still glorify the pillaging of artifacts, and we consume this without knowledge, which is the most disheartening aspect.