News about art & art history
In April of 2003, the Iraqi National Museum was looted and more than 170,000 pieces in their showrooms and storerooms were stolen. Fortunately, thousands of these pieces were recovered, yet, sadly, thousands may never be seen again; lost to the world for all time. Of these recovered pieces, three are studied in this lesson:
The Warka Head, The Vase of Uruk, and the Akkadian Ruler (head). To read an article, published in the University of Chicago Chronicle (April 2004), visit:
http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/040415/oi.shtml
Another article, this one published by the USA Today newspaper (March 2006), discusses the actions of museums (specifically the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York) that purchase looted goods - either knowingly or unknowingly - and whether or not the original homelands of the objects can and should get the items safely returned. To acquaint yourself with the dire problem of looting, and why you (the represented people of the populous) should be informed, visit:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-03-29-stolen-art_x.htm
Lastly, the USA Today newspaper wrote a follow-up article (also March 2006) regarding a few of the cases being pursued by origin countries against the museums of the United States of America. To further your knowledge on the controversial debate, visit: http://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-03-29-stolen-art-sidebar_x.htm
Recent news reports, from May 2010, have focused on the dishevelment of some of the most ancient and revered Babylonian sites. Unfortunately, it is the American occupation, since 2003, that has caused some very serous - and many irreparable - damages. To watch the 3-minute video that discusses the Babylonian tragedy, visit:
http://youtu.be/idYZT1f0QUI