Where is this artifact from? Who does it belong to? How did it get here? Who’s telling its story? Critical inquiry into the practice and politics of museums has reached a new zenith in contemporary discourse. From discussions of acquisition and repatriation to provenience (archaeological findspot) and provenance (an object’s ownership history) and the ethics of curation and modes of display, museum and art professionals—and the general public alike—are deliberating on the concept of museums and the responsibilities of such institutions towards the collections in their care. This talk will explore the early history of museums and collecting practices with a focus on cultural heritage collections from West Asia—beginning with the archaeological explorations of “the Orient” and colonial collecting practices dating back to the nineteenth century, followed by the creation of the “encyclopedic museum,” the popularity of world’s exhibitions, and the politics of representation and reception.

Short bibliography and/or website on lecture topic:

Kevin McGeough. 2015. The Ancient Near East in the Nineteenth Century: I. Claiming and Conquering; II. Collection, Constructing, Curating; III. Fantasy and Alternative Histories. 3 Volumes. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Edward P. Alexander, Mary Alexander, and Juilee Decker. 2017. Museums in Motion: An Introduction to the History and Functions of Museums. Third Edition. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield.
James Cuno. 2008. Who Owns Antiquity? Museums and the Battle Over Our Ancient Heritage. Princeton; Oxford: Princeton University Press.

Kershaw Lectures in Near East Archaeology