Research Research from CMLT 210: History and Politics of Modern Museums

Final paper for CMLT 210, exploring the tensions between historical preservation and the dignity of the deceased, the process of repatriation, and the importance of involving descendant communities in these decisions, by using the Smithsonian's racial brain collection as a primary case study.

An essay expanding upon and exploring one contemporary debate about the museum, focused on the argument whether the museum should be actors of social change or remain impartial as recordkeepers of history.

After reading and discussing the assigned Old Masters by Thomas Bernhard, there was an assigned essay to conduct a close reading on the text of a topic of our choosing. Throughout the novel was a central focus on the isolation of the main character, Reger. Analyzing the depiction of isolation, I compared Bernhard's narrative to the Cultural Hegemony Theory, and how it relates to the narratives showcased in contemporary museums.