I went to ISAC yesterday and was thrilled by what I discovered. I was there for three hours and never got beyond the first gallery! There was so much to read, admire, and absorb. I'm so glad I joined; I'll be heading back next week! As to the name change: I think you made a choice that helps non-scholars like me know what to expect. Thank you.

The Institute is one of the best museums in Chicago, but it's one that too few residents and visitors know about.

@Yesica1993

10 ай бұрын

I've lived here forever and I'm just learning of it today!

Have always loved the OI/ISAC, and I understand the impetus behind the name change, but the new name sounds like it was made by a commitee.

Really rolls off the tongue, lol

What about the study of ancient cultures in East and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Old Europe, the Americas, Polynesia, Australia? Are there not ancient cultures in these geographical locations? Will there be separate institutes for those as well? I get that the name change was intended for political correctness, but if the scope is limited to West Asia and North Africa, it should have just been called the ACWANA Institute or something to that effect.

As someone who learned of the Oriental Institute through your wonderful lecture archive here on KZread, I am exactly the person described in the start of this video: someone who originally thought I was going to see jade carvings from ancient Far Eastern sites. I celebrate this change

I understand the rationale for changing the name, but I do not agree with replacing a well-known, highly respected brand with something imminently forgettable! Of course “Oriental” has changed its connotation over the years, but anyone with an interest in archaeology and history soon learned to recognize the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago as one of the most respected, accomplished, and revered institutions the field.

@cariboux2

Жыл бұрын

Concur entirely. And I fear that this is but the beginning of a long demise, like we have seen in other universities.

@scott1285

10 ай бұрын

​@cariboux2 oh you mean like what is happening in Florida? I can only assume.

@cariboux2

10 ай бұрын

@@scott1285 I don't get the reference.

I like the new name, and the logo is perfect! I’m so used to the old name that now I just have to remember the new one. ISAC ISAC ISAC!

There are talented artists from the MENA region who offer sound and music, even copyright free, to represent your content better than this monotonous stock-track. It's worth a search.

Environmental sustainability?

Rebranding is tricky. Love the new logo. The name change is a mistake though; in my humble opinion.

It was like a brand name. Brand names are unique identifiers even if they lack inherent meaning related to the products they sell. It would have been better to keep the name but reassess and move the relationship with the communities in which fieldwork is conducted into the 21st century

Long name

I really enjoy the new logo! It'll be tough getting Google to recognize that the Oriental Institute has now become the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, but like someone else here said, I'm sure y'all have a good SEO team :)

Opportunism!

Some new dean or Vice President of Whatever that had to put their smudgy fingerprints all over your legacy, or did you decide to 86 it yourselves?

@shardanette1

Жыл бұрын

Oriental is an outdated and confusing name for that part of the world. It was time.

@Savalanoghlu

Жыл бұрын

How about for a single moment, take your emotions out of it and ask... would all these cultures appreciate being called oriental?

Though I understand the reasoning behind the rebranding, I am concerned that this is but a prelude to a long diminution in standards. If this is the case, it's horribly sad that an institute that has contributed so much has now opted for acceptance over quality.

How sad to hear. This is just unmemorable bureaucratese. Perhaps ISAC can produce a dictionary of it now.

If this is the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia & North Africa, then does that mean there's an ISAC, East Asia or ISAC, North America & South America as well? If there are not multiple ISACs and this one is not covering all ancient cultures in general, then could drop the comma and use the Institute for the Study of Ancient West Asia and North Africa. Maybe drop "Far East" for "East Asia" in the video too.

@golden_raisins

Жыл бұрын

Seconding the "Far East" critique, doesn't feel like they fully understand why the term "oriental" is pejorative.

@dv9360

Жыл бұрын

Or just replace the word "Oriental" in the name for the Ancient West Asia and North Africa Institute.

I thoroughly enjoy your talks, & look forward to many more from the ISAC.

I love the institutes love for lotuses❤ and shareholders

Terrible name. What a shame.

Very Academic. Change your name to the latest 'approved' wording. Lol

Good stuff.

Congratulations from Egypt

Ty for the change

I agree with the name change. But it's still the Sears Tower!

Love the new name! Love the lotus flower logo!

@heqaib

Жыл бұрын

The name is just confusing and could be controversial. 😢

Terrible decision

Good change.

Glad for the more relevant name change. Now it's time to tell Google. I can't find you in regular search and similar names are popping up. The institute needs a CONCERTED effort to repopulate google with the new name, replace and redirect links to the new name. Hope you hired a good SEO team. It's a critical step for the new name to be found.

Insanity

Just a heads up, in a few years you're going to have to change your name again, as the phrase "Ancient Cultures" will have come to have negative connotations for some people. In fact, it would be best to just plan on changing your name once a year from now on, just to be on the safe side.

You have erred. You have replaced a memorable two-word name with a jumbled mess of terms. As they used to say, "nobody will remember your name."

An improvement for understanding, for sure. Beautiful logo.

How necessary was it? We all know how to maneuver the term and the system of Orientalism. You just imitated Oxford.

Thank you.

Congrats!

It's a bad name change. ISAC is way too generic of a name.

As a direct descendant of General Dobrius of Mesopotamia, who drives a Lotus Model Eleven, I could not AGREE more with the changes! Although the original name was confusing, the paired Lamassu on the front of the building grabbed hold of my cultural heritage & IMPRINTED your location upon my mind forever!

Long overdue but glad to see it finally happen.

Love the new name and the reason for the change

Well done!

woke

Respect.

What a fantastic new name 😊❤

Excellent name change, for so many reasons.

Way better

good. your name implied you were asian, haha

@Charok1

Жыл бұрын

@@qed100 a lot of Egyptian, and that is not asian

@dv9360

Жыл бұрын

Southwest Asia

Like the blue lotus 🪷 logo.