Primitive art in the Western world: Collecting and preserving art, or looting and money making? - General Tiki

S Sophista-tiki Tiki Socialite Seattle WA Joined: Sep 13, 2005 Posts: 1899	S Sophista-tiki Posted posted on Sun, Mar 29, 2009 8:25 AM wouldn't that be called "monkey see monkey do" There is new museum thinking and laws being enacted about repatriation of artifacts. Cases could be made to have all looted artifacts returned to their countries of origin, and counter cases could be made to keep them in the collection in which they are currently being preserved. It seems to me that most artifacts of antiquity were originally looted and pompously justified in the name of the country where they currently reside. I agree that many of these artifacts and works of art would probably be lost if they had not been squirreled away in the collection of the worlds greatest museums. However , if the country of origin wants to reclaim objects they have every right to. in most cases these countries now have the capabilities to care for the objects keeping them preserved and building their own historical identity in the process. Its not that looted cultures didn't recognize the significance of their artifacts, I think that it was just lost in their history for some time. If a significant work of art was looted form its original people, or found after centuries by a foreign explorer and just "claimed" and whisked away How would the native peoples even have a chance to realize what they were missing?

wouldn't that be called "monkey see monkey do"

There is new museum thinking and laws being enacted about repatriation of artifacts. Cases could be made to have all looted artifacts returned to their countries of origin, and counter cases could be made to keep them in the collection in which they are currently being preserved.

It seems to me that most artifacts of antiquity were originally looted and pompously justified in the name of the country where they currently reside.

I agree that many of these artifacts and works of art would probably be lost if they had not been squirreled away in the collection of the worlds greatest museums. However , if the country of origin wants to reclaim objects they have every right to. in most cases these countries now have the capabilities to care for the objects keeping them preserved and building their own historical identity in the process.

Its not that looted cultures didn't recognize the significance of their artifacts, I think that it was just lost in their history for some time. If a significant work of art was looted form its original people, or found after centuries by a foreign explorer and just "claimed" and whisked away How would the native peoples even have a chance to realize what they were missing?

Post #443349 by Sophista-tiki on Sun, Mar 29, 2009 8:25 AM