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Online Art
INTRODUCTION
The ownership of many priceless artworks has become questionable because of how each was acquired. Some were gotten through outright theft, others were the spoils of war. Some were taken in the process of colonization, some as bounty and others by treasure hunters. You will become investigators and reporters. After your investigations you will present a case which will help determine the legal and ethical title of the rightful owners.
Museums and the Spoils of War
From a paper by Alan Riding New York Times Sec. 4, P. 3, Sunday March 12, 1995 Even before the Romans took their pick of Greek statues, art was treated as war booty. Throughout Europe's turbulent history, art works regularly changed hands through armed conflict or political domination. And from the 19th century, the Europeans began bringing Asian, African and Latin American treasures into their museums -- to save them, it was claimed, from destruction. Increasingly, however, "victim" countries are refusing to view history as a closed book. Greece has long demanded the return of the Elgin Marbles, the 253 sculptures from the Parthenon that are in the British Museum. Turkey, China, Cambodia, Nigeria, Mali and Bangladesh say their cultural heritage was ransacked. Mexicans lament that the feathered headdress of the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma is in a Vienna museum. "For Turkey, the point of departure is that pieces should be returned to their country of origin," said Ahmed Ulker, a Turkish diplomat at Unesco, the United Nations cultural body that promotes restitution of unique art treasures. "Of course, we don't want to empty Western museums. But, as a matter of principle, art works exported illegally should be returned." .... Teacher Notes THE TASK You will be divided into small groups. Each group will be asked to research an individual case which involves adventure, intrigue and sometimes actual theft. Each person in the group will become a professional investigator and will have separate tasks to complete. When each individual has completed his or her part of the work, the group will prepare a final presentation to the "Court of Public Opinion," which will decide the fate of this work. Will it stay with the present owner, or will it be returned to its country of origin? OBJECTIVES To learn about the past To bring historical knowledge to a present day problem To understand the concept of "ethics" To research international law To explore a single case study To learn about the value in history of art and artifacts To be part of a "Court of Public Opinion"
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