The Ethical Question of British Museums

By Austin Christ

The museums of London are a phenomenon. They have gathered artifacts from all over the world into one city, with the purpose of drawing people from all over the world to see them. During our week in London, I had the opportunity to experience arguably the greatest collections in the world. At the infamous British museum, I saw the Rosetta stone, the Parthenon statues, ancient African sculptures, Egyptian statues, and more. I can undoubtedly say that I was amazed by the exhibits and certainly enjoyed learning and experiencing the art of historical cultures around the world. However, the entire time I was there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow this was all wrong. It prompted me to think more critically about the ethics of museum consumption, and how the British government has created a multi-million dollar industry based on the exhibition of stolen artifacts.

The term ‘stolen’ should not be controversial in this context because it is historically accurate.

The Rosetta stone, for instance, was originally looted from Egypt by the French under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798. Shortly thereafter, French-controlled Egypt was besieged by the British, and thus the Rosetta stone was stolen once again. Cases such as this can be said of nearly every artifact in the British museum. It’s important to note that the British empire, at its peak, stretched all over the world and had no issues with “collecting” their prized possessions. Many of these countries, such as Egypt and Greece, want their historical artifacts back. Some began asking for them over a hundred years ago. The British government, however, is of course reluctant to do so, as these prized possessions generate millions of pounds each year by serving as tourist attractions. The longer I continued to marvel at the remarkably-preserved wonders of the ancient world, the more cynical I became. These cultures should be able to exhibit the fragments of their own history themselves, and from their own perspectives. It may not be unethical to consume and immerse oneself in these museums, however it is important to recognize the historical significance of these exhibits and advocate for the returning of these artifacts for the sake of cultural justice.