bardofvibes

bard of vibes

Cat, 20s, they/she || mostly here for Hannibal, CR (M9, shadowgast), Ghost (the band), TAD, the locked tomb, TWN,... || queer bean trying to figure out life

628 posts

A Lot Of Ppl In The Notes Of The Previous Post Are Mentioning Museums Hoarding Stolen Cultural Objects

a lot of ppl in the notes of the previous post are mentioning museums hoarding stolen cultural objects which is important beyond measure but museums shutting down due to lack of funding will not result in repatriation of cultural materials, they would most likely be auctioned off to private ultra-wealthy collectors to recoup some of their debt and we'd never find these objects again let alone be able to repatriate them. i understand the desire to say 'fuck museums let them die' for this reason but it won't have the result you think it will, and it will also mean that all of their ethically sourced and donated materials (which for most museums are the vast majority of their collections) will no longer be cared for by experts but again, sold off to private collectors who can do whatever they want with them or deteriorate in storehouses indefinitely. this would be catastrophic for public history and collective knowledge-sharing across the globe across cultures, and museums in post-colonial and run by/for racialized or otherwise oppressed ethnic groups will fall first because they receive FAR less funding than the large western institutions. just repeating phrases and sentiments you've seen online as a form of performative activism without knowing anything about what you're talking about does more harm than good and doesn't make you look smart or clever just foolish it's so deeply annoying and frustrating

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yes museums have so much more purpose than the exhibitions we see from the outside they provide education outside of schools and universities they collect objects and keep them safe and intact and they restore them and research them and yes they are chronically underfunded and if there were better funding they could do their jobs better museums are important because they do their part in keeping history alive don't let them die because you think they are inherently evil because in general restitution of stolen objects is an important part of museum work as well I have a degree in museum studies and sometimes I remember I actually know things about museums not everyone might cat thinks thoughts