Thesis
Displaying Human Remains in Italy, Why It Matters to Italian Museums: Research, Ethics, and Repatriation
(2014)
Abstract
Looking critically at museum collections in Italy exhibiting human remains, this paper examines current display practices and techniques, cultural views on displaying the dead, and explores the controversial topic of “Human Remains vs. Historical Object.” This paper compares the scientific benefits of collecting, analyzing, displaying human remains, in concert with a cultural and physical anthropological analysis, including cultural identity and viewer interpretation. It argues the ethical and moral issues associated with the exposition of human remains for their historical, scientific or entertainment value. Finally, it explores the principles behind repatriation, including a discussion on ownership and assessing claims to human remains of ancient cultures. Incorporating responses by the staff at Italian museums in Bolzano, Venice, and Florence this paper assesses the value of displaying human remains within Italian collections from a professional perspective and seeks to generate logical and ethical debates for the future of displaying human remains in Italy.
Keywords
- Museums,
- Human Remains,
- Italy,
- Exhibitions,
- Anthropology,
- Ethics,
- Art History
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring May, 2014
Degree
Master of Arts
Field of study
Museum Studies
Advisor
Emanuela Rossi
Citation Information
Vincent Barraza. "Displaying Human Remains in Italy, Why It Matters to Italian Museums: Research, Ethics, and Repatriation" (2014) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/vincent-barraza/1/
Creative Commons license
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY-SA International License.