Thursday 2 April 2020

Week 12 Readings


            When discussing War, Peace, Commemoration & Readdress in displaying/presenting history, personal opinions on what is acceptable varies amongst cultural backgrounds and social situations. In “Should we display the dead?”, the question is brought up whether or not displaying certain groups is acceptable, and the fact that many former empire states have countless remains of former ruled nations and conquered peoples they saw as scientific or historical and removed them from their natural home. While most may not still be on display, there are large anthropological collections still remaining in Europe. Personally, I feel that regardless of the remains being from the past 150 years or not, if there are more sustainable and more respectful ways of studying/presenting a group of people should be done. 3D scanning technology has come a very far way in the past decade, even while working at MOA their tech is vastly more impressive than anything I’ve seen before. If a body could scientifically be studied to help the human species, and scanned to have a digital file, and then placed back into its original resting place that would be a great alternative. The digital file can then be used to construct a 3D printed model or even a model using VR or AR technology to have people see finer detail. As well, when creating the digital file, anthropologists could work with historians to help repair or mend any clothing/regalia or bone structure that may be missing to the passing of time.
            The article “Holocaust Remembrance and Heidelberg” was absolutely amazing, and shows one of the great ways of retaining knowledge on such a horrible atrocity. Inviting former residence back to their home town as a remembrance activity to show that their town will not forget their presence in history nor what Germany had done to them or their families. Having former residents address the town and teachers and anyone who would listen will have lasting positive impacts. The article addresses that young people do not know about the Holocaust, or even Auschwitz for that matter, and having people who have lived through the pain and suffering come and tell their stories is a perfect way to make sure young people learn and no one will forget.
            The CBC article on the 9/11 Museum puts forward questions on whether or not it is too soon to have a museum in honour of those who had passed and the tragic event in 2001, and who it is for. The first thing to acknowledge about this article is that they mention the museum has a gift shop, and that, that seems absurd and disrespectful in so many ways. However, I am not aware what you can buy within the gift shop and maybe all of the proceeds go to the families who were impacted due to 9/11, but that is just me being an optimist. Steve Kandell who is quoted in the article, says that he will not find peace by touring the museum but will use it as a teaching tool for his son, because he knows that he will not find the words to describe the tragedy. Something as recent as 9/11 will have many people opposing a museum as quickly as it had been established, because it is a close and personal tragedy that directly impacted their lives. But, others will find solace in knowing that their family members will be remembered and anyone who does not know much about the tragic event can visit the museum, witness the destruction, feel for the families and see the faces and names of those who have passed on due to 9/11.
Honouring events correctly and appropriately will take time, and most likely there is no proper way of doing it without offending someone. Presenting historical tragic events, and people will always be a tricky road to traverse. On one hand, if people can learn from a historical event and prevent it from happening again or honouring those who have passed due to an event, there will always be someone who disagrees and thinks things be done a different way. History is always biased, those presenting history have an agenda whether they know it or not, and there will be those that oppose it. Personally I can choose not to indorse/visit museums that go against my better judgement. If I feel like they are improperly displaying deceased people, I will not go, if they are disrespecting cultural burial and religious practices I will stand behind those that know better than I. But, there will be those that will find commemorating a victory in war as disrespecting those that have lost their lives on the “losing” side. Our world is no longer insular for each nation. People from every country in the world live within the United States, and the same goes for major nations all around the world. Globalism has led to a better understanding of cultures and peoples that the western world had only known through conflict, and moving forward things like simply wearing the poppy on Remembrance Day will be a conversation that is had. Is it commemorating all that had died during the conflict or just the Allies? I have no opinion on this, but it was something that came to mind while doing these readings.

As always,
Adios
Daniel