Read about the controversy of the Elgin Marbles/Parthenon Sculptures at the British Museum. Greece has built a museum for them at the base of the Parthenon in hopes of their return but the British Government has refused to give back the sculptures, claiming that were acquired legally. In this assignment, I would like you to re-imagine a future for the most notoriously stolen artifacts housed in European and North American museums.
Step 1: Write a 1-2 paragraph summary of the controversy. What was the object originally used for? How did the object get into the museum collection?
Step 2: Imagine that object was returned to the country of origin. Or even that the object had never been taken in the first place.
What is the significance of the place where it is now kept? How to people engage with the objects? Are there are other things near the object? What are they? Write a 250-500 description. If you decide to do an illustration of the space, then just write about 100 words explaining how the space is used and include your visualization. I have listed the objects below. Please choose one object as the focus of the assignment. You will have to do a basic Internet search to find articles/short writings on the controversy. Cite two or three articles/writings that you consulted them at the end of your paper. Library research is not required.
1. Benin Bronzes from Nigeria (British Museum)
2. Rosetta Stone from Egypt (British Museum)
3. Bust of Nefertiti from Egypt (Neues Museum, Germany)
4. Crown of Maqdala and other objects from Ethiopia (Victoria & Albert Museum, Great Britain)
5. Amaravati Sculptures from India (British Museum)
6. Hoa Hakananai’a from Rapa Nui (British Museum)
7. Ashurbanipal’s reliefs from Iraq (British Museum)
8. Akan Drum from Ghana (British Museum)
9. Boinayel figures from Taino culture, Jamaica (British Museum)
10. Mexica “Moctecuzoma’s” Feathered headdress from Mexico (Weltmuseum, Austria)
