Indiana Jones

Raiders was released in the summer of 1981 and grossed over $300 million, which was the most of any film released that year. It is considered a tribute to the older "serial" films of earlier times. The famous George Lucas, who wrote the film, based it off of previous literature that he had wrote called The Andventures of Indiana Smith. The story is that Lucas and Steven Spielberg were in Hawaii together and spielberg mentioned that he wanted to direct a James Bond movie. Lucas responded by saying that he had a character that was better than James Bond. They both decided that Smith was a terrible last name and decided to name him Indiana Jones. Indiana was the name of Lucas' dog.

Raiders chronicles the adventure of Indiana Jones as he races against the Nazis for the Ark of the Covenant which supposedly contains "unspeakable power." The Nazis are in it for obvious reasons, while Indiana's are less clear. Indiana teams up with a past love named Marion Ravenwood near the beginning of the film. Indiana has an archrival in the film named Belloq. Belloq is a French archaeologist who for his own personal gain is helping the Nazis in their quest. As the film developes both Marion and the Ark change possesion between Indiana and Belloq. At the end of the film, the power of the Ark is released and destroys all of the Nazis but leave Indiana and Marion alive. The final shot is the Ark of the Covenant being stored in an American warehouse full of other crates.

In many ways, Raiders is similar to Star Wars; one of which being that it is designed as a monomyth and so it reflects so many of characteristics that we see in myths. You have the hero on a quest to gain a sacred object and the conflict between good and evil. Indiana is called to leave his normal life behind, as a teacher, and morph into an adventurist who battles evil in its highest form (Nazis). This is similar to Luke Skywalker's quest in Star Wars; where he leaves his home planet and changes from a farmer into a Jedi and battles Darth Vader, who is the embodiment of evil.

One of the clear elements of the film is that of totem and taboo. Indiana's job is to steal something that is revered by certain cultures and considered taboo. In this light, the character of Indiana is less the pristine. The Ark iof the Covenant is the main object of desire in the film. The Ark is one of the most sacred objects of the Jews, for it contains the original Ten Commandments brought down by Moses. For this reason it is also taboo. It contains unimagined power which can destroy armies and level cities. People will kill, lie, and steal to have it.

In the opening scene of the film, Spielberg lets us know that something is wrong and that we are not supposed to be here. Maybe we should of gotten a clue when the native screems and runs away from the mouth of the stone idol, the enterence into the temple. If that did not let us know that this was taboo then surely the poison dart found in the tree would or maybe the attempted assasination of Indiana. We, as the audience, may have gotten the clue but Indiana did not. Even after escaping several boobie traps in the cave/temple, he continues of his dangerous quest. This lets us know that Indiana does not care if the object is taboo; if God will strike him down for stealing it. He does not fear the dangers but rather is shown to be resourceful and escapes everything. In the end however, Indiana is empty handed, a theme that is consistent throughout the film. This opening scene also adds to the credibility of seeing this film as a myth because Indiana is given a mystic dimension. He is only seen from the back or in the shadows for the longest time before he is finally revealed. He is a mystery only reveiled with the crack of his whip. He is almost supernatural, as if he has eyes in the back of his head and can see everything, everywhere.

One interesting characteristic of the taboo is that it is often related to reconciling one with the father. In Raiders, Indiana pursuit of the Ark can be thought of as his desire to be reconciled, especially when God's judgment passes over him near the end of the movie. Anothe side of Indiana wants to rebel against the father when he reunites with his old love Marion. Indiana was the student of Marion's father and his "deflowering" of her brought disapproval and anger against him from