Museum Synthesis Essay

Museums play a viable part in preserving a nation's past and spreading culture. Often times, a museum features artifacts from various regions of the world through which citizens of one country are able to experience a change in culture, whilst in the comfort of their own homes. This, however, leads to the issue of morality, in which the debate of whom the artifacts actually belong to and where they should go,in order to best preserve them for future generations arises. Museums currently return artifacts to their rightful countries if they deem necessary. This decision is purely based on the judgment of museum officials. However, as stated in “Bring Them Home,” “museums acquire objects with full cooperation from the originating country” (Article 1.) Often times the transport of artifacts are done for legitimate reasons and are done legally. For example, if a country was once in an unstable state, they may have given an artifact to another country, in hopes of preserving it. This can be seen in article 1 when it talks about the removal of the Parthenon temple in Greece, in order to preserve it. In this case, the Greece was undergoing political issues that but the temple in danger.

According to the author of “Museum Preserve the Cultures of the World,” “ Museum professionals are experts, trained in the best ways to preserve and restore ancient art and other relics” (Article 2.) As a result of this, artifacts would be kept safe by trained professionals, and not be open to further damage by human and natural causes. In some instances, such as the one seen in article 2 with the nust of Queen Nefertiti, transporting ancient treasures would increase the chances of damage to artifacts, instead of the unified goal of protecting