Who Owns Antiquity?: Museums and the Battle over Our Ancient Heritage
Oct 2010 · Princeton University Press
5.0star
1 reviewreport
Ebook
288
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
Whether antiquities should be returned to the countries where they were found is one of the most urgent and controversial issues in the art world today, and it has pitted museums, private collectors, and dealers against source countries, archaeologists, and academics. Maintaining that the acquisition of undocumented antiquities by museums encourages the looting of archaeological sites, countries such as Italy, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and China have claimed ancient artifacts as state property, called for their return from museums around the world, and passed laws against their future export. But in Who Owns Antiquity?, one of the world's leading museum directors vigorously challenges this nationalistic position, arguing that it is damaging and often disingenuous. "Antiquities," James Cuno argues, "are the cultural property of all humankind," "evidence of the world's ancient past and not that of a particular modern nation. They comprise antiquity, and antiquity knows no borders."
Cuno argues that nationalistic retention and reclamation policies impede common access to this common heritage and encourage a dubious and dangerous politicization of antiquities--and of culture itself. Antiquities need to be protected from looting but also from nationalistic identity politics. To do this, Cuno calls for measures to broaden rather than restrict international access to antiquities. He advocates restoration of the system under which source countries would share newly discovered artifacts in exchange for archaeological help, and he argues that museums should again be allowed reasonable ways to acquire undocumented antiquities. Cuno explains how partage broadened access to our ancient heritage and helped create national museums in Cairo, Baghdad, and Kabul. The first extended defense of the side of museums in the struggle over antiquities, Who Owns Antiquity? is sure to be as important as it is controversial.
Some images inside the book are unavailable due to digital copyright restrictions.
Cuno argues that nationalistic retention and reclamation policies impede common access to this common heritage and encourage a dubious and dangerous politicization of antiquities--and of culture itself. Antiquities need to be protected from looting but also from nationalistic identity politics. To do this, Cuno calls for measures to broaden rather than restrict international access to antiquities. He advocates restoration of the system under which source countries would share newly discovered artifacts in exchange for archaeological help, and he argues that museums should again be allowed reasonable ways to acquire undocumented antiquities. Cuno explains how partage broadened access to our ancient heritage and helped create national museums in Cairo, Baghdad, and Kabul. The first extended defense of the side of museums in the struggle over antiquities, Who Owns Antiquity? is sure to be as important as it is controversial.
Some images inside the book are unavailable due to digital copyright restrictions.
Ratings and reviews
5.0
1 review
A Google user
- Flag inappropriate
I agree with Cuno. The antiquities are just that, before the nations declared they want them back, they were "finds", not stolen. To make the oldest art a matter of politics is criminal. The owners, museums or otherwise should not need to bend to the new formation of wealth in those nations. Private collectors anywhere pay for their treasures, supply and demand. The "moral" part is just a disquise for greed and control. I am not about to give away to a communist country my personal wealth. I live in America and we engage in the free enterprise system. If China wants these things, let them pay for them. Those donors who gave them up when they died, had the intention of improving access to the museums, not be squealched by politics. Shame on UNESCO for making an argument that the dead would not have been part of. Stand up for our museums, don't give up and bend to the pressure. The whole point of having what was free to have, to trade and then to show or just treasure as they are is not for any government to declare as theirs. I learned a great deal about history and the art of China. That's a lesson for anyone, to become educated and knowledgeable. As a teacher, this is part of what I do, make things comprehensible. Securing antiquities away from the rest of the world, does not make for a learning environment. Museums are part of that culture to make comprehension and education happen. Again, it is also about ownership, maybe what I have is for sale at the right price and maybe not. I am growing attached to my bronze.
About the author
James Cuno is president and director of the Art Institute of Chicago and former director of the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Harvard University Art Museums. He has written widely on museums and cultural policy. His books include Whose Muse?: Art Museums and the Public's Trust (Princeton).
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
