Sideways World

Stolen History: Who Owns the Past? looks at the status of cultural treasures taken from their country of origin. Voices demanding repatriation are getting stronger. Museum directors talk about why their institution is the rightful owner and custodian of certain objects. People demanding repatriation explain the necessity of guarding their cultural heritage in an accessible place in the home country. Stolen History: Who Owns the Past? also looks at the situation in the Middle East and how that affects the cultural heritage of certain areas. The turmoil in Iraq, Egypt, Libya and Syria has led to mayhem in the cultural heritage domain: looted museums and looted archeological sites. This is ongoing. To make money, ISIS was selling looting licenses to entrepreneurs and professional art thieves. Looting now takes place on industrial scale, totally out of control.

Episode 1 – Conflicts and Resolutions  

This first episode looks at the status of cultural treasures taken from their country of origin during colonial times. Voices demanding repatriation are getting stronger. Museum directors talk about why their institution is the rightful owner and custodian of certain objects. Cultural activists demanding repatriation explain the necessity of guarding their cultural heritage in an accessible place in the home country. Nefertiti is in Berlin, The Parthenon Marbles are in London, The Rosetta Stone is in Paris and many other priceless historical pieces in many other capitals of the West, all house objects that are at the centre of a heated discussion. Legal and ethical questions in a tug of war make this debate a murky one, at best. However, there are examples of cases where a mutually beneficial solution has been found.

Episode 2 – Permission and Denial

The second episode focuses on the Parthenon marbles from Athens which is the best-known example of cultural heritage where there is a heavy ongoing debate. Should the marbles be unified? Should the country of origin have a say in how cultural heritage is introduced far away from home? Problems created by people long ago which need to be solved.

Episode 3 – Iconoclasm and Resurrection

This last episode looks at the current situation in the Middle East and how that affects the cultural heritage of certain areas. The turmoil in Iraq, Egypt, Libya and Syria has led to mayhem in the cultural heritage domain: looted museums and looted archeological sites. This has not stopped. Financing terror organizations like the Islamic State happens by selling looting licenses to entrepreneurs and professional art thieves. Looting and forgeries now take place on an industrial scale, polluting our common history.