The Ethnohistory Program

at the University of Pennsylvania

 

Objects and Sites as Cultural Property:

The Power of Cultural Heritage in a Globalized World

Dr. Richard Leventhal

Ethnohistory Faculty Coordinator


In 2006-2007, the Ethnohistory Workshop Series was entitled, “Powerful Objects: How do things come to hold sway over people?” and focused upon objects as a source of power within culture. For the 2007-2008 series, we are extending this concept to that of cultural heritage and the role that objects and sites have in the creation of heritage and of cultural identity.


For the past twenty years in newspapers, magazines, and museums, people have begun to identify antiquities as cultural property that should be returned to their source country. This connects to Native American human remains and sacred objects that are being returned to indigenous groups within the United States through the federal legislation of NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act). It also includes the Elgin Marbles or Parthenon Marbles that have been debated in England and Greece for many years. And more recently, illegally acquired antiquities at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles have been identified and returned to their source country.


Rather than debate simply about antiquities, the 2007-2008 Ethnohistory Workshop will invite speakers to Penn to examine the concept of ‘cultural property’ and that of ‘sacred site.’ What makes an object a cultural property and what makes a site sacred and worthy of being preserved for the next generation?

One can ask this question of obvious material such as the Parthenon Marbles. But, one could also ask this about an object such as the Thomas Eakins painting, The Gross Clinic. Did the status of this painting change around the November 2006 announcement of a proposed sale of the painting by Jefferson University? Before that announcement, few people went to Jefferson University to see the painting; after November, it has become a star attraction at the Museums that purchased the painting. What changed?


During the year, these questions will be examined from a variety of perspectives and related to an entire series of objects and sites. Perspectives will include issues of cultural identity, human rights, cultural cohesion, symbolism, context, and legality.


Spring Schedule

 

March 6th, 2008

Brian Isaac Daniels (Doctoral Candidate, Anthropology & History)

“Thinking about Things: Cultural Heritage in Its Political Setting”

Penn Museum, Anthropology Department, Room 345

4:30-6:30 pm

Reception to follow

 

April 28th, 2008

Lunchtime discussion on Cultural Heritage and the Power of Objects and Sites with:

Lynn Meskell (Professor of Anthropology, Stanford University)

Neil Brodie (Research Associate, Stanford University Archaeology Center)

Richard Leventhal (Professor of Anthropology, UPenn)

Christina Luke (Boston University)

Brian Daniels (UPenn)

12:00-2:00 pm

Penn Museum, Room 345

Lunch served

 

Workshop:

Ian Hodder (Professor of Anthropology, Stanford University)

Title: “Disappearing ethics? Towards rights and practices in the archaeology of the 21st century”

4:30-6:30 pm

Penn Museum, Room 345

Reception to follow

 

Fall Schedule


October 25th, 2007

Richard Leventhal (Professor of Anthropology, UPenn)

“What is Cultural Property? And why is it important?”

Penn Humanities Forum, 3619 Locust Walk

4:30-6:30 pm

Reception to follow

 

November 15th, 2007

Lee Rosenbaum AKA ‘CultureGrrl’

“Towards a Ceasefire in the Cultural Property Wars”

Penn Humanities Forum, 3619 Locust Walk

4:30-6:30 pm

Reception to follow

 

December 13th, 2007

Patty Gerstenblith (Professor of Law, DePaul University)

Title: "Does the Market in Antiquities Help or Hinder Preservation of the Archaeological Heritage?"

Penn Humanities Forum, 3619 Locust Walk

4:30-6:30 pm

Reception to follow