Badass Archivists in Television and Movies: a Really Short List

I’ve always had some pretty lofty career goals. When I was five, I decided it was my destiny to be crowned Miss USA after watching a televised pageant. A few years later, I saw Jurassic Park, and was determined to become a paleontologist (or a T-rex); and after watching Free Willy, a marine biologist; and after watching Dead Poets’ Society, an English teacher, and so on. Now, I’m focused becoming an archivist, something that would have never occurred to me as a child or adolescent. And it probably couldn’t have occurred to me; like most kids, I sought to emulate my heroes, and they were all on the T.V. Archivists are rarely portrayed in film and television. When they are, they’re often called librarians, or they function like an amalgam of archivist and librarian. Furthermore, portrayals of archivists have been problematic, riddled with stereotypes of the information profession. However, one can find fictional archivists that deviate from the bespectacled, dusty eccentrics that exist in the popular imagination. For the sake of all the little Adrienne Evans’s out there, wasting their time with tiaras and dinosaurs when they should be constructing their first set of phase boxes, I’ve prepared a shortlist of archivists in films and television that break the mold. Please be advised, this post contains SPOILERS for many of the shows and movies mentioned.

1. Archivist, Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas, the 2012 film adaptation of David Mitchel’s novel, features a character known as Archivist. Living in year 2114, Archivist appears to be an agent of a hyper-capitalistic totalitarian state. As the film commences, Archivist interviews Somni 451, a death row prisoner charged with sedition. At first glance, Archivist appears to reinforce several stereotypes about the profession. For starters, he’s the tool of an unjust authority. Historically, archives (and by extension, archivists) reinforced the status quo, protecting the secrets of the powerful and preserving the history of the privileged. The nature of archives has shifted dramatically over the past century, but it’s still a difficult history to live down. Archivist’s physical appearance is also somewhat typical. He appears to be a paragon of archival objectivity; his voice remains flat throughout the interview and his face is oddly featureless. However, as the plot progresses, it’s obvious that Somni’s story has moved Archivist. In their final interview, Archivist asks Somni if she feels that her actions have been worth her life if nobody believes her story. She replies that somebody already does. Archivist grows becomes more than a tool of the regime. He preserves and passes on Somni’s interview and revolutionary ideals, and it is a source of inspiration for generations to come.

2. Master Jocasta Nu, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: the Clone Wars

Head Librarian of the Jedi Archives, Jocasta Nu has dedicated her life to accessioning every existing record in the galaxy. As a result, she is overconfident and a little condescending, which are classic negative archivist stereotypes. When Obi Wan Kenobi questions the completeness of the Archives, Jocasta retorts that if something is not in the Archives, it does not exist. She is later proven wrong. She is also pretty typical of the physical traits that the popular imagination associates with the information profession: she’s old, slightly crooked, and most importantly, sports a large top knot bun complete with chopsticks. I’m surprised that the director didn’t have her shush someone. Jocasta seems like a textbook example of the librarian stereotype, however, she’s got a few tricks up those big ol’ Jedi sleeves. Far from being submissive and introverted, Jocasta is a leader among the Jedi. She sits on the Jedi Council. Plus, Jocasta is known for her fighting skills and spent her youth exploring the galaxy. She continues to carry a light saber to commemorate her years of active service (and intimidate nasty patrons.)

3. Abigail Chase, National Treasure

In National Treasure, Abigial Chase is an archivist working at the National Archives. Nic Cage accidently kidnaps her when he steals the Declaration of Independence, and wacky, historically inaccurate adventures ensue. Chase’s appearance is not as typically “librarianistic” or “archivisty” as the rest of the characters in this list. She’s all Channel suites and evening dresses (she probably doesn’t even own a cardigan). Also, while she wears attractive clothing she manages to avoid the sexed up male-fantasy version of the librarian/archivist.  Like Jocasta Nu, Chase isn’t your wilting-flower variety information professional. Chase is full of feistiness and one liners throughout ridiculous and dangerous events of National Treasure. Although she does lose points for allowing Cage use the Declaration as a bullet shield.

4. Rupert Giles (aka “Ripper”), Buffy the Vampire Slayer

It’s Giles! He’s prim and British. He loathes technology and prefers the smell of old books. He’s got all the trappings of a proper librarian, including the spectles and tweed vest. But is Giles an archivist?  When he’s not dodging his responsibilities as a highschool librarian, or managing his collection of magic books, Giles preserves the dairies of the Watchers of yore, which makes him eligible for inclusion in the list.

Spending seven seasons with Giles, the viewer comes to know him as much more than a walking stereotype.  Like others on this list, he defies the popular notion of information professionals as introverted and meek. He trains the Slayer and takes an activie role in combating demons. In addition, he’s also a secret rock star, performing accoustic covers of classic American rock songs in his spare time.

Honorable Mentions: I would have loved to include these guys too, but they’re just not archivist enough

·         Evelyn O’Connel, The Mummy

·         Yomiko Readmen (aka “Agent Paper”), Read or Die

·         Librarians of Nightvale, Welcome to Nightvale

·         Marian the Librarian, Once Upon a Time (that PBS show in which a witch kidnaps a librarian and forces her to tell her stories)
 

Image sources in order of appearance: ropeofsilicon.com; realjediknights.webs.com; earnthis.net; oocities.org; e-shuushuu.net