Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Who Owns the Past?: The Debate Surrounding the Move to Return Critical Cultural Items to Their Countries of Origin. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 6 page discussion of the growing demand that museums return items in their collection to the nations and cultural groups presenting claim to them. The author reviews such diverse cases as the British Museum's possession of the Elgin Marbles from the Greek Parthenon and the Boston Museum's collection of Mayan grave goods. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: AM2_PPcultP1.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
The question as to who owns cultural property is quite complex. In effect, we must ask
ourselves "Who owns the past?" (Warren, 1991). The Elgin Marbles and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts cases each illustrate the many considerations which must go into deciding ownership
of cultural property. These cases also introduce considerations regarding what to do when governments want their cultural property returned. The thesis can be presented that there is no
one or right answer to the question of who owns the past. Many considerations must be taken into account. In short, the particulars of how an artifact was
obtained are critical. So too, however, is the decision which would prove to be in the best interest of the artifact, the people involved, and mankind in general.
There are of course, two or more sides to every argument. Warren (1991) helps us organizes these concerns by grouping them into what
she refers to as the "three Rs" of cultural properties: 1. "claims concerning the
restitution of cultural properties to their ocuntries of origin" 2. "restriction of imports and exports of cultural properties"
3. rights regarding cultural property (rights of ownership, rights of access, rights of inheritance")
When we consider that question of "Who owns the past?" we quickly recognize it is replete with complexity. The reference to "past" in this question is
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