QuixoticgeekMar 23
Two weeks ago, I went to a museum. Now long term followers, will not be surprised by this. I goto a lot of museums. In fact one of my favourite ways to spend an afternoon is mooching round a museum with a friend excitedly infodumping at each other about the artifacts. I've written numerous threads on the subject. Mostly positive, a couple less so. But the Museum I went to two weeks ago. The visit was an incredible mix of emotions that I'm still trying to digest. But I want to share with you.
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Show threadQuixoticgeekMar 23

I should have twigged something after looking at the first display case I saw after exiting the lift on the 1st floor of Das Wiener Naturhistorische Museum. I should have understood it immediately. It's a failing that it took me several hours of wandering around the museum for that to sink in.

The museum is undergoing construction work, so I had to take a slightly illogical route to get to the start of the incredibly well curated set of artifacts. I walked past all sorts of things to get...
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Show threadBomkattMar 24

@quixoticgeek i very much wished i could have someone infodumping through display cases while i was there. So much stuff.

What really blew my mind is that people have been wandering around looking at those rocks in those cases for a century.

Show threadBomkattMar 24

@quixoticgeek i had similar feelings of conflict, as so much of the "collecting" was really stealing and extorting.

I think it is healthy for us (white USian here) to wrestle with that legacy as well as the destruction you're talking about.

There were some truly amazing pieces of history there, but it's not a cause for unequivocal celebration

Show threadAbieMar 24
@bomkatt @quixoticgeek Same here in Paris with the statues of the six continents in front of the Musée d'Orsay.
https://paris1900.lartnouveau.com/paris07/orsay_musee/statues.htm
Show threadBomkatt
@temptoetiam @quixoticgeek very similar for sure
Mar 24 at 2:55pmWeb