Considering Repatriation

Museums play a vital role in preserving history and enabling people to view historical objects to understand the origins of various beliefs and cultures. According to Kleiner (2015), museums also allow visitors to react to what they see and interpret art based on their experiences to determine its failure and success. In this regard, museums have responsibilities to the cultures of origin and to rectify the past’s misdeeds. The first responsibility is educating people on the cultures of origin based on facts about the culture. Museums are responsible for ensuring that individuals are conversant with the cultures of origin and can educate visitors on the culture’s values and beliefs. Another responsibility is displaying alternative views of history. According to Brown (2016), museums are responsible for communicating historical timelines and views that visitors may not have heard before to alter the mindset of people who have never been educated about the history of a culture outside mainstream history books and courses. Helping people understand the facts about historical events, why events occurred as they did, and the positive impacts of the events are essential in rectifying the misdeeds of the past.

Further, museums are responsible for preserving historical objects in their historic form. For example, they should not tamper with the design and state of the objects. Another responsibility to the objects is providing safe custody to avoid theft and taking care of them to prevent damage (P??ek et al., 2021). Another responsibility is ensuring that the objects are displayed in areas where visitors can easily view them. The objects should also be labeled appropriately to help visitors understand what they are observing.

The best way to satisfy both responsibilities is to work with the local community members who understand the cultures of origins and the importance of the historical objects so that they can stay committed to caring for the objects. For example, museums may assign the responsibility to take care of historical objects, explain the cultures of origin, and educate visitors about the objects to people from that culture. According to Moustaira (2011), cultural objects represent cultural identity. Therefore, individuals may be committed to preserving their cultural objects to preserve their cultural identity.

References

Brown, R. (2016). The Importance of Museums Preserving Local Culture. NJ MARITIME MUSEUM. https://njmaritimemuseum.org/the-importance-of-museums-preserving-local-culture/#:~:text=Museums%20play%20a%20crucial%20role,those%20from%20different%20cultural%20backgrounds.

Kleiner, F. S. (2015). Gardner’s art through the ages, book F: Non-western art since 1300. Cengage Learning.

Moustaira, E. (2011). Cultural objects and identity. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3154444.

P??ek, M. J., Ochrana, F., & Pla?ek, M. (2021). The modern Museum: Its role, function, and social mission. Arts, Research, Innovation and Society, 17-44. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82028-2_2.

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Considering Repatriation

Discussion Board Statement: These discussions are meant for you to jot down your thoughts and analyses of the works of the week. In art, everything is evaluated by your perspective. There is no right or wrong answer to be graded against; instead, you will be graded on how you defend your analysis of the art pieces and the use of the resources (when appropriate).
This week, you have learned about Cambodia’s efforts to return stolen artifacts. The issue of museum repatriation is not exclusive to Cambodia. The so-called “Elgin Marbles,” which famously adorned the Ancient Greek Parthenon, are currently located in the British Museum, despite Greece’s efforts to repatriate the sculptures. Bronze and ivory sculptures violently looted from Africa in times of war remain in European and American museums. As archaeological standards evolve over time, this issue will be continually addressed and re-addressed.
Let us explore your thoughts on museum repatriation.
What responsibilities do the museums have to the cultures of origin and to rectify the misdeeds of the past?
What responsibilities do they have to the objects themselves?
What is the best way to satisfy both?
Remember, there is no right or wrong answer. Explain your reasoning and use a specific example of art to support your idea. Read your classmates’ responses with an open mind, and remember to be respectful in your discourse.