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Reviews
The Brutish Museums: The Benin Bronzes, Colonial Violence and Cultural Restitution by Dan Hicks
rachelbram's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
4.0
I hate giving this anything but a 5 because the argument is so important and necessary and compelling. And I know it was necessary to cover the colonial violence committed in the course of stealing the Benin Bronzes. I think I would have liked more reflection on what it means for the museums holding these stolen artifacts and how reparations can be made. Also the theory at the beginning of the book went a little over my head.
margo415's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.25
janiswong's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
As the border is to the nation state so the museum is to empire.
This quote guides the author's perspective, detailing a truly brutal historical account of the theft we see in “world culture” museums. Describing rich histories that are even darker than the Parthenon Marble, the author challenges the likes of brass and bronze artworks in Eurocentric museums. The writing is critical and does not shy away from the brutality faced by Africa's nations and people. The book is quite academic in its style of writing but still easy to read. A well-researched book and a must for those working in museums or visitors, reminding us that the placement of these pieces in museums is not a fragment of the past, but continues long legacies suffering.
directorpurry's review against another edition
4.0
Extremely powerful, topical, and important. Museums owe a duty to their patrons and to the ravaged cultures of the world to recontextualize and repatriate objects in order to decolonize museums and make them the places of learning they should be.
Read for Cultural Heritage, master's level museum studies course.
Read for Cultural Heritage, master's level museum studies course.
freya_sw's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Very good; strongly and persuasively argued book about the colonial past, present and possible futures of the Benin Bronzes. Corporate-militarist colonialism. Introduces lots of new ways of thinking about colonialism (for me anyway) e.g. chronopolotics, necrology. Poses important questions and potential solutions. Somewhat repetitive in parts.