Wicked problems: current issues in Policy, Art and Law

Full course description

Cultural institutions today are at the heart of social, political, ethical and legal issues. How to deal with objects that were taken from communities or individual owners under circumstances that we currently find unacceptable? This question includes objects from former colonies, dependencies and territories under foreign occupation. When and to whom should objects be returned that came from former colonies and territories under foreign occupation (post-colonial challenges)? What to do with museum objects that have been taken from their owners in suspect or even unacceptable circumstances (looting by the Soviets and Nazis)? What to do with human remains (including objects made from human remains) that have entered museum collections? What is reparation, restitution and repatriation, and whose responsibility is it to implement it? How to respond to the call for cultural institutions to take a leading role in social justice matters? What is the role of ICOM in this case, and what is the role of governments in the case of government controlled museums? 

This course focuses on three core wicked problems in the policy, art and law field. We question exhibitions in situations of coloniality, provenance research and restitution.

The course takes an interdisciplinary approach and builds on perspectives coming from academic fields such as (art) history, sociology, pedagogy, philosophy, law and critical museology as well as professional practices such as conservation, curatorship, policy, and education.