Excuse Me, But Does This Belong to You? (Pierre)
By Angie Pierre.
If you think about it long enough, you’ll realize that museums are very controversial. Most of their art comes from other cultures and is obtained illegally or unethically. The concept of museums is good, great in fact. If you google search ‘what is a museum’ you’ll get this definition: “a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited.” However, the execution? Not so great.
Many claim that we have left the behaviors of our past behind and became a more cognizant, respectful, and open society. So why does attending a history museum and looking at a 16th-century mask from Nigeria make me feel so guilty if we claim to be such a society?
Many of the art pieces or statues we see at museums from various cultures across the globe are not just art to some cultures. They are sources of worship or detailed accounts of their history. Museums are not meant to have such items. These items are supposed to be in the hands of the cultures they belong to, and if they decide that it should be displayed on a mantelpiece in a museum somewhere, that is there call. Art is subjective. However, these pieces are not, to you and me at least.
Think about it, imagine never seeing an artistic staple that illustrates and defines the cultural heritage of your country or ethnic group. Well, that is the reality of millions of people across the globe who’s cultural or country’s history is placed in a museum thousands and thousands of miles away from them. If and when they decide to reclaim what does belong to them, they are prevented by the country that stole it from them.
That is reality. In fact the United Kingdom has a museum act which states that they are prohibited from permanently returning artifacts. As of right now, The United Kingdom does not seem to want to get rid of this act, despite the call too. So as you gaze upon the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum and suddenly feel guilty, you belong at a high percentage of those who do too.
Well, if museums are as problematic as you claim, then how can we fix them?
I’m glad you asked.
This is not an easy question to answer. Various political, social, and economic factors must be involved when answering this question. However, I suggest that laws preventing nations from returning artifacts should be repealed and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural, Organization (UNESCO) should be involved in the process of repatriation if they have not already. UNESCO is a neutral party that can initiate discourse between nations. Further, I believe that UNESCO, along with United Nation member states and other countries can draft a legislation in regards repatriation that can include ( but not limited to) which artifact belongs to which nation, how artifacts are returned and borrowed, when they are borrowed, and the transportation of each piece. Lastly, UNESCO must consider having museums of their own in various places globally to ensure member states and other nations the safety and security of artifacts. This may be considered as a way source of comprise. However, this is not the answer but an answer to what can be done.
