- Inter-faculty Studies in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Computer Science
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Mathematics
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Computer Science
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Mathematics
(in Polish) Should the British Museum return its artefacts and other questions on ethical issues in heritage studies 4208-StB-OG
The aims of the course include attempts to, together, define the cultural property and identify various forms of human relationship to it. We will try to solve this problem by looking at different viewpoints of actors currently involved in the management of cultural property worldwide. Through an analysis of arguments behind the stance of a collector, museum, a military organisation, a museum visitor, an archaeologist, an artist, a craftsman, a native culture or a nation, we will try to resolve currently burning issues in cultural property management. The course will familiarise students with functioning ethical and legal principles which facilitate dispute resolution and guide through possible scenarios and decision-making in the fields of museum studies and cultural objects restitution. We will conclude, however, with a set of open questions and a collection of various opinions on the discussed matters. The course will cover the following topics:
1. Colonialism: What to do with colonial art in western museums? Should it be returned?
2. Early anthropology: should museums have acquired art or artefacts with dubious histories of ownership? Should they return it to the native communities? Who are the communities and what are national and international laws regulating the issue?
3. Destruction of cultural heritage as a crime against humanity: How to protect cultural property during the armed conflict?
4. Illicit trafficking: What are various laws and regulations pertaining to illicit trafficking of cultural property?
Type of course
Learning outcomes
In terms of knowledge, student:
(1) Is fluent in using correct terminology related to the protection of cultural heritage. (2) Is equipped with tools necessary to analyse case studies related to the repatriation and restitution of cultural objects. (3) Is familiar with essential international legislation and conventions pertaining to the protection of cultural heritage.
In terms of skills, student:
(1) Has English language skills in
accordance with the requirements of B2+
level of the Common European Framework
of Reference for Languages. (2) Is an educated consumer of art and museum collections.
In terms of social skills:
(1) Participates in teamwork. (2) Can initiate and moderate a discussion. (3) Is more sensitive towards origins of museum objects and the contexts in which they are presented.
Assessment criteria
Attendance and active participation during class presentations (50 %) and one presentation of a selected case with some moderation of the discussion (50 %).
Bibliography
Basic Literature:
1. Kwame Anthony Appiah, (2006) ‘Whose Culture Is It?’ New York Review of Books February 9, 2006.
2. Matthew Arnold, (1868), ‘Introduction’ and ‘Chapter One –Sweetness and Light’ Culture and Anarchy: An Essay in Cultural and Political Criticism Oxford University Press.
3. James Cuno, (2014) ‘Culture War: The Case Against Repatriating Museum Artifacts’ Foreign Affairs 93(6), November/December.
4. Derek Gillman, (2009) ‘Heritage and National Treasures’ in Whose Culture? The Promise of Museums and the Debate over Antiquities Princeton University Press.
5. Marcel Mauss, (1967), ‘Distribution of the System: Generosity, Honorand Money’ The Gift Routledge and Keegan Paul Publishers.
6. John Merryman, (1985) ‘Thinking About the Elgin Marbles’, Michigan Law Review, 83(8): 1880-1923.3.
7. John Merryman, (1986) ‘Two Ways of Thinking about Cultural Property’ American Journal of International Law 80.
8. Fred Myers, (2005) ‘Some Properties of Art and Culture: Ontologies of the Image and Economies of Exchange’ in D. Miller (ed) Materiality Duke University Press.
9. Rosemary Neill, (2013) ‘British Museum and National Museum of Australia host dual Indigenous exhibition’ The Australian October 5, 2013.
10. Lyndel Prott and Patrick O’Keefe, (2004)‘Cultural Heritage or Cultural Property?’ in P. Gerstenblith (ed), Art, Cultural Heritage and the Law Carolina Academic Press.
11. Lyndel Prott, (1996) ‘UNESCO and UNIDROIT: A Partnership Against Trafficking in Cultural Objects’ Uniform Law Review(1)1.
12. Wolfgang Reinhard, (2015) ‘History of Colonization and Colonialism’ in International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Science (Second Edition), Elsevier Press.
13. David Scott, (2015) ‘Anthropology of Colonialism’ in International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Science (Second Edition), Elsevier Press.
14. Raymond Williams, (1976) ‘Culture’ and ‘Civilization’ in Keywords: A Vocabulary of Culture and Society Oxford University Press.
Conventions:
1. Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1954.
2. UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, 1970.
3. UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, 1995.
4. Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1999.
5. UNESCO Declaration Concerning the International Destruction of Cultural Heritage, 2003.
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
- Inter-faculty Studies in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Computer Science
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Mathematics
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Computer Science
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Mathematics
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: