How about repatriation as it affects exhibition and research, a
truly American controversial topic?

On Tue, 13 Feb 1996, Eric Siegel wrote:

>    A general inquiry (*very* general).
>
>    As a result of discussions on this list, I have been invited by our
>    Danish museum colleagues to go speak at a conference in Aarhus, DN on
>    various political aspects of American museums.  This, of course,
>    proves the adage that "on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog."
>
>    In an effort to provide value for money, and to go beyond my own
>    perspective, I have been doing some research on the topic.  As part of
>    this research, I now have an inquiry to make to the Museum-l'ers.
>
>    The general gist of the discussion is, first, to provide a biased
>    perspective on American politics.  I don' need no stinkin research for
>    that, it will be from the personal point of view of...me, here as a
>    NYC Jew-Liberal, etc.
>
>    The second part of the discussion will also not require a whole lot of
>    research, as it will be about the typical organizational structure of
>    American museums as private not-for-profits, and how that affects the
>    public role of museums.
>
>    The third part will be about specific controversies over exhibitions.
>    I will probably focus upon the Enola Gay exhibit.  Mike Wallace did
>    some in-depth research for his book on the evolution of the exhibit.
>    I seem to remember the mention of a web-site.  Before I turn to Lycos,
>    does anyone here have a URL?  I would like to include some other
>    exhibits that have confronted similar controversies, for example, the
>    exhibit that will open next month (?) about the Irish in NYC.  Any
>    other examples will be welcome.
>
>    I will then assemble a small international panel, and try to elicit
>    the different responses that controversial exhibitions might engender
>    in museums in Germany, Denmark, Britain, and the United States. We'll
>    see how that works.
>
>    I am interested in reading contrarian analyses of museum
>    theory/practice.  I enjoyed Umberto Eco's book, Travels in
>    Hyperreality, which treats glancingly of museums.  Any books that have
>    proven provocative and pithy, I would be glad to hear about.  Even if
>    you *really* disagreed with the books thesis/tone.
>
>    This conference begins on March 20, so I am busily reading away...
>    Grateful for any suggestions,
>
>    Eric Siegel
>    [log in to unmask]
>