The beautiful Parthenon Marbles are currently located in London, and came from Athens. The Marbles never should have made it to the British Museum in the first place. It was a very selfish move on Lord Elgin part to have such an amazing piece of art with such a grand historical background brought from its original environment to be placed in his personal home. But now that it has been in London for a while, I think it may as well stay there. The fact that the British Museum focuses more on aesthetics over historical context bothered me at first, but I have come to the conclusion that either way is okay. It is based off of the culture, values, and goals of the British Museum.
Having the British museum focus on the aesthetics more than the historical aspect of the marble like I said before, bothered me at first. Why would people want to see study artwork that was no longer in its original form? It takes away part of the story behind the art. It is sad to see art being gushed over, when it’s not even close to how it was created to be. But I decided, just because the marble is no longer in the original form, does not mean it is not beautiful, and does not mean it is no longer a piece of art. It can be admired simply for the talent it took to make it. London and much of the world really value the aesthetics in art, so it is not a surprise they value the aesthetics over the history in this particular piece.
The Parthenon Marble has been very popular in London, and considering the hundreds of art students who have used it as a tool of study just gives the marbles a purpose to stay in London, where it can continue to be seen, and admired. Not that it wouldn’t be in Athens, but I feel like London does get slightly more visitors, and obviously has already had many art students already pass through looking and studying the Parthenon Marbles.
Overall, it is ok that the Parthenon Marbles stay in the British Museum, although I think the original intent of their movement was selfish, there is not a pressuring reason for the Marble to be moved back to Athens, other than the people who are upset that it is gone…. Well it was saved from getting completely destroyed. So there is not much to complain about. The perspective of looking more at the aesthetics then the history is just how many pieces of art are looked at, especially if the art no longer is in its original form.
I definitely agree that Lord Elgin was selfish. But his selfishness may have saved the marbles from ruin. While I understand, and mostly agree, with your point about the marbles staying at the British Museum, it would be a good gesture to loan them to Greece in exchange for other great ancient Greek art. As for the art being in its original historical form, there is nothing that can be done about that so focusing on the talented artists of the past and the aesthetics of the marbles is reasonable at this point in time.
ReplyDeleteNice post. I agree, the marbles should be left where they are now. To try and relocate them now sounds just as risky to their survival than it is disrespectful to have them in London. I think it is better to have them exist away from their origin than to try and move them now.
ReplyDelete-Tom