Why are so many of the objects we studied in this unit in European or American museums? Why do terrorist organizations in Syria blow up monuments in their own country?
Readings:
- Neil MacGregor, “Standard of Ur” in The History of the World in 100 Objects (podcast, 15 minutes). [NB: for me, it works if I download it and then listen to it through Apple Music. It didn’t work when I just clicked “Listen Now.”] Jump right into the podcast and listen. Jot down some reactions. THEN: poke around the website. What is this project as a whole? What institution has organized it? Where are the objects? Who is Neil MacGregor? Does knowing this complicate your initial reaction to the podcast?
- Omur Harmansah, “ISIS, Heritage, and the Spectacles of Destruction in the Global Media,” Near Eastern Archaeology v. 78.3 (2015), 170-77.
