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Stolen Histories: Colonialism, Looting, and the Illicit Trade of Cultural Heritage

Module description

How did West African material culture like the Benin Bronzes end up in European museums? Why does their journey matter? What do objects and artworks such as these mean to us now, in the 21^st century, as we live with the legacy of empire? What do they tell us about culture, power, and the links between finance and politics? To whom do these artefacts belong? This module will explore the complexities of decolonising spaces and disentangling repatriation claims using an interdisciplinary approach integrating perspectives from history, anthropology, art history, and museum studies.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will be of interest to students who want to explore the historical context of stolen objects to understand how and why they were taken. You will have the opportunity to explore the world of fake objects and forged artworks, shipwreck looting, the illicit trade in antiquities, war zone collecting, and debates surrounding contemporary 3D reproduction printing. We will examine how museums respond to issues surrounding the sale of objects, the politics of museum closures, and the disposal of collections across different geographical regions. You will develop skills in analysing material culture, using objects as primary sources.

By the end of the module, you will be able to discuss the ethical considerations of collecting and displaying stolen objects, and will have developed critical thinking skills to reflect on the power dynamics involved in acquisition and exchange. Casting a critical eye on practice-based solutions, rather than theoretically-driven initiatives, this module will examine responses to collections under threat. Upon completion of the module, you will be able to discuss, through reference to particular examples, effective solutions to issues facing the public history sector today.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Understand the complexities of decision-making processes that museums, galleries, and heritage organisations encounter as public-facing organisations confronting the legacies of empire, ongoing conflict, and the power dynamics of cultural exchange.
• 2. Critically reflect on practice-based examples from different geographical regions, while taking into account specific heritage-related challenges in western and non-western contexts.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Contextualise developments in the field through case-study analysis and situate the basis for these decisions politically, geographically, and historically.
• 4. Demonstrate desk-based research skills to examine primary and secondary sources and material culture to discuss and critically analyse the relationship between theory and practice.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Utilise their ability to discuss complex and sensitive topics in a respectful manner through careful and balanced analysis to deliver information in a concise manner.
• 6. Demonstrate the ability to organise carefully researched information together alongside recognition of audience requirements in the dissemination of information.
• 7. Work independently and collaboratively when required.

Syllabus plan

This module will be structured as a traditional module, with lectures and complementary seminars taking place each week to enable you to develop a good theoretical and practical understanding of the complexities involved in the legal and illicit trade of cultural heritage. You will engage with international case studies and contextualise geographical debates within their own understanding of the historical complexities involved. By layering this understanding of power and colonisation onto both historical and contemporary debates in this field, you will gain a deeper understanding of the difficulties and possibilities surrounding the movement of material culture across political boundaries.

While the precise content of the module may vary, it is expected that the course will cover most of the themes as outlined above.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Cuno, James. Whose Culture?: The Promise of Museums and the Debate over Antiquities. 1st ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2012.
• Denton, Kirk A. Exhibiting the Past: Historical Memory and the Politics of Museums in Postsocialist China. 1st ed. United States: University of Hawaii Press, 2013.
• Higgins, Noelle. The Protection of Cultural Heritage During Armed Conflict: The Changing Paradigms. 1st edition. Vol. 1. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2020.
• Hill, Kate. Museums, Modernity and Conflict: Museums and Collections in and of War since the Nineteenth Century. 1st edition. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2020.
• Kline, Thomas R. “Where Are We and Where Are We Going: Legal Developments in Cultural Property and Nazi Art Looting.” The John Marshall review of intellectual property law 15, no. 3 (2016).
• Mackenzie, Simon, Neil Brodie, Donna Yates, and Christos Tsirogiannis. Trafficking Culture: New Directions in Researching the Global Market in Illicit Antiquities. 1st edition. Milton: Routledge, 2020.
• Onciul, Bryony. Museums, Heritage and Indigenous Voice: Decolonizing Engagement. 1st ed. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2015.

Key words search

Material culture; heritage; politics; geography; imperialism; empire; trade; exchange; theft; looting.