Profiling Some Pro's

Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino

Hello again!  So this week we are going to take a look at a few of my favorite blogs from my current blogroll.  I would like to give a shout out to the wonderful blog: http://chasingaphrodite.com/. This blog is written by Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino who--together--wrote an absolutely fantastic book called "Chasing Aphrodite." Their book is an in-depth investigative-journalist's perspective on the Getty Museum's investigation and scandal regarding looted materials. Excuse me while I geek out about this book (I read it last semester for one of my ethics of archaeology classes): it is totally fascinating to follow the whole process from the looting that occurs at the archaeological sites to the museum cases and everything in between. Believe me I would read it again and again just for enjoyment. It really is that well written and full of intrigue.

Anyway. . . back to blogging. So both men are investigative journalists with the LA Times and are very highly regarded. Their blog and book is called "Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities in the World's Museums." What is even cooler about the research done by these reporters is that on the blog they have been doing follow ups to the book.Their blog, unlike their book, has more leeway to discuss and include information and articles about sites and struggles with looting in case studies NOT always involving the Getty Museum. I mean check out the Glyptotek (apparently the Getty isn't the only Museum in trouble). There are just so many facts against these museums. . . can you imagine finding those photographs PROVING an artifact looted? It is enough to make an archaeologist foam at the mouth and fairly need to be lead away. But really, what they are doing on their blog is goooood stuff.

Even though these men are not experts in archaeology or ethics, they have spent so much time pursuing the news stories involved in these cases (like Getty Museum) that they are very familiar with a lot of archaeological/ethical issues (very impressive if I do say so myself)! These men have definitely given me a greater level of respect for the time and effort that good journalists will put into their articles and research. I also find it interesting that even though they have written a book, and the case for the Getty has been "closed," they still haven't given up talking about the issue. And that is SOOOO encouraging, very few people actually understand or are aware of the issues that happen within the field of archaeology (or how that matters to them and why they should even care). . . It takes real genuine interest and publicity to get people's attention sometimes. . . just another reason why their blogging is so valuable.

 You'd never even think something was "rotten in the state of Camelot!"

"Chasing Aphrodite" is an academic and professional blog, much like what you would expect from two gentlemen who have dedicated their lives to journalism. The writing is not so full of jargon that it is impossible to follow (as often academics write) and it is not as casual as other blogs which focus more on the humor or 'pathos' -- I definitely feel much more of a logical (logos) kind of approach here. Overall I think it is a very captivating and informative blog. They do an excellent job by linking to other blogs and to more information regarding their posts. I find links to be especially helpful when it comes to fact checking (and as a visual-person who likes to click and look at pretty pictures and new sites).

I know, I know, I know I sound like I am fan-girling here over their blog and work. . . and that probably is surprising considering how critical I've been of things in past posts. . . but hey, I've gotta be honest. I respect these guys a whole bunch for their efforts and for sticking their necks out there knowing--that by challenging big institutions and crime scenes they would be taking a major risk. 

Thank you guys, I take my hat off to you. . . and hope maybe someday to go out there and catch those baddies myself ;)