Unravelling Empire

Session Objective: to situate our study of environmental racism within the United Kingdom’s long history of colonial violence

The first unit of Climates of Resistance is about (dis)orientation. “Orientation” has several related meanings, many of which we will tap into for our introductory weeks.

Firstly, “familiarisation with something”, as we get to know the class set-up and course themes. During our first session together, we will get to know each other and the course through inter-group introductions and a consensus-building exercise creating community guidelines for discussion. We will also situate our study of racism within London through a trip to the British Museum.

Note: the ways in which The British Museum itself presents controversies in its collection. You can also go through its Collecting and Empire Trail and read its statement on the Parthenon Marbles.

Contested objects from the collectionFind out more about the current status of discussions on some of our contested objects.

Tour: the Museum, making use of the “Unfiltered History Tour” resources.

The True Stories of 10 of the Most Disputed Objects at the British MuseumAs told by the people from the countries they were taken from.

Review: various controversies and stories told about content considered to be owned by the Museum - a public body which is accountable to the UK Parliament.

British Museum told to keep better records after theft of 1,500 itemsReview finds museum should make sure all artefacts are registered, after unregistered gems and jewellery stolen

Thefts expose British Museum’s ‘ridiculous’ stance on return of artefacts, says MPChair of parliamentary reparations group hits out at law preventing return of Parthenon marbles and Benin bronzes

British Museum is world's largest receiver of stolen goods, says QCGeoffrey Robertson says it should ‘wash its hands of blood and return Elgin’s loot’

Contested artefacts from the British Museum: 7 things you need to know16 year-old Justin Sau outlines the appeals for repatriation

Elgin marbles to Moai heads - the artefacts British Museum has been urged to returnParthenon Sculptures, Rosetta Stone and Benin Bronzes are just some of the ‘contested objects’ in Bloomsbury institution’s collection, Joe Sommerlad reports

Report abuse