Non-European culture heritage in a European museum - strategies of (re)presentation

Bibliogr. s. 91-92.

One can distinguish various ways of speaking about the Other in the history of ethnography museums. The initial exotizing and objectifying attitude is being replaced by new strategies, which were developed in response to among others postcolonial studies and the new museology movement criticizing the nineteenth-century model of the institution. The new forms of exhibition presentations can be describe in term of reflective turn, which is fulfilled by emphasizing the colonial roots of mutual relations. There are also strategies touching upon the idea of a museum as a contact zone (James Clifford) or the idea of agon (popularized by Chantal Mouffe), in exhibitions following that train of thought unambiguous representation is replaced by creative meeting of different entities having wqual rights. The last mentioned strategy uses tools of art in presenting non-European heritage. I am interested in ways of presenting non-European collections in European museums, as well as convictions and visions behind them which are projected on the heritage of a community often deprived of voice.