Life and Art from FT Weekend cover image

Life and Art from FT Weekend

Why museums should keep their mummies and shrunken heads

Aug 12, 2024
Marc Filippino, a guest host and FT associate editor, dives into the ethical dilemmas surrounding the display of mummies and shrunken heads in museums. He and Stephen Bush discuss the importance of consent and ownership, arguing that artifacts taken ethically deserve to be showcased. They explore the value these grotesque items bring to museum experiences, sparking curiosity and confronting mortality. The conversation also highlights London's diverse museum landscape, emphasizing the need for deeper cultural respect in curation and viewer engagement.
21:22
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Episode guests

Marc Filippino

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The display of human remains prompts ethical concerns regarding consent and ownership, particularly about artifacts taken without proper respect.
  • Engaging with grotesque exhibits can spark curiosity and deeper exploration of historical contexts, enriching visitor understanding of past cultures.

Deep dives

The Ethics of Displaying Historical Artifacts

Displaying historical artifacts, especially those that are grotesque or related to death, raises significant ethical questions. The discussion highlights the uncomfortable reality that many such items, like mummies and shrunken heads, were never meant to be displayed to the public and were taken without the consent of the individuals or cultures they represent. For instance, King Tutankhamun, whose mummy has traveled globally for exhibition, did not envision being gawked at behind glass in a museum. This lack of consent prompts a deeper examination of how we engage with items from the past, balancing public interest with respect for the dignity of the deceased.

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