Why Some Museums Are Filled With Stolen Objects
Vložit
- čas přidán 19. 01. 2021
- VICE World News host Zing Tsjeng travels to the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford to explore the ongoing controversy surrounding dubiously sourced colonial artefacts that we see in museum collections across Europe.
In 1897 British forces entered the Kingdom of Benin - modern-day Nigeria - and violently looted hundreds of priceless possessions, many of which are now on display in Western museums and private collections.
Some museums are now trying to engage with the problematic history of their collections; from repatriating items to their country of origin to re-examining the ethics of displaying human remains. We can’t change the past, but we can change how we acknowledge it in the present - even if it’s uncomfortable.
Empires of Dirt is a show about Europeans getting rich at the expense of everyone else. VICE World News host Zing Tsjeng uncovers the ugly history of the European colonial empires they don’t teach us in schools. Countries around the world were looted for their treasures, people were oppressed and exploited and European powers relentlessly profited. The far-reaching repercussions of colonialism are all around us, from our financial institutions to the food we have in our cupboards at home - and it’s about time we took notice.
Watch more from this series:
How Banks Made Money From Slavery
• How Banks Made Money F...
How Britain Stole $45 Trillion from India with Trains
• How Britain Stole $45 ...
How Britain Got China Hooked on Opium
• How Britain Got China ...
Sugar & Slavery: The Building Blocks of Bristol’s 1%
• Sugar & Slavery: The B...
How the British Empire Exported Homophobia
• How the British Empire...
Click here to SUBSCRIBE to VICE Asia: bit.ly/2LhqAR9
Connect with VICE Asia:
Check out our full video catalog: bit.ly/2P3Y0pv
Videos, daily editorial and more: vice.com/en_asia
More videos from the VICE network: viceasia/videos/
Like VICE Asia on Facebook: viceasia
Follow VICE Asia on Twitter: / viceasia
Follow us on Instagram: / viceasia - Zábava
I love this series. She is doing a great job exposing what most don't even realize.
Right. How odd it is, the most significant crimer is not recognized.
love all the white coloniser countries getting triggered by this
Hit like if they stole from your country. Write the name of country too.
@@arpitpatra India. I don't think more discription is necessary in this regard.
Facts
“British” museum. Literally went to Greece hey what happened to the Parthenon sculptures....Egypt what happened to the.....
The British have stolen from a lot more civilizations than just the Greeks or Egyptians.
@@BEE-do7bk I know. I've been to 46+ countries. They stole everything
@@yotaiji012 : And they feel that they are entitled, for they can "take care of these items
better than the countries they originated (stolen) from." The Parthenon sculptures are
another good example of stolen property. It is so interesting to listen to their justification
for exhibiting items from other lands. The Cecil Rhodes mentality still prevails!!!!! Even
Stephen Fry said they needed to be returned to Greece.
@@HJKelley47 If you win a bet you win the money. If you lose a war you lose valuables. Who would've guessed valuables would've been taken by the victor, the thousands of examples from all civilisations but lets all pretend to be surprised.
@@Kyle_Hubbard that doesn't justify the BRITISH MENTALITY OF entitlement
I Know most of these museums have the bank to make replicas and return the original artifacts to the host countries but at the end of the day they’re just selfish.There is no excuse we have advancements in scanning ,printing technologies and human artistry that make it 100 percent possible.
Yeah but Kind of loose the purpose if you just show fakes. also, it’s really hard to replicate ageing well, wich is kind of part of the hole museum experience
This is an underrated series. Loved it
I know you may not know much about other European empires, but it would be nice to learn about the french and Spanish empires for example. But great series though I have been very much enjoying it
Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, German and Belgian ones are much less discussed, so they would make for even more interesting videos IMHO.
And give us Ottoman empire and arab slave trade, they were huge.
Sorry, but that's just whataboutism
@@bkkold Or they want to learn about other subjects ya fool.
the brithis museum has more stolen artifact than all other museums in europa combine.
that is why we fotos on english piratas.
also the most racist and genocidals sre the birthis too.
first drug empire also, look the opium wars
I really like this series hopefully those people from the countries featured in here watch this so they can be aware of the past and hopefully be less proud on their so called supremacy in the history.
You are awesome. Love your series.
I'm a Naga Tribal (Tangkhul Clan) and I'm really glad and grateful to this channel for highlighting my culture and it's misinformation!
Thanks again! ❤️
I'm north indian and this is depressing af
@@brickmedusa payeet things
@@antiglassesgang ????
@@brickmedusa he's calling youpajeet
I don't think they should give them back many of the items are things they was sold or given as gifts on travle. Abd the musium keeps them safe many of the artifacts would not be here if it wasn't for there protection. We got to move pass this hole movement these younger kids now are doing everything offensive everything hurts done feelings.
Are you alright? These things don't belong to the BRITISH. Their existence or non-existence has no bearing... If the people of Benin did not exist, then these treasures would not exist anyway. Take them back to where they belong. What they do with them is none of the British business. I am sure they have taken enough pictures and videos of them, so their conceptually will never be lost.
What about Kohinoor ?
Sadly they can’t do anything that Elizabeth queen has it they can’t go to her and take it
Also the British royal family isn’t gonna give up on the diamond that easily
Kohinoor was brought by uk . Not stolen
@@XariksBeatbox what are u trying to say. Why would they ask her about diamond when it was given to her
I rock with this host and this series! Keep it up
Africa ,the land of real kings.
That is very true.
*kangz
Ah yes now that i know that the shrunken heads were used because people believed their souls could be used to increase harvests I'm now convinced this wasn't some strange bizzare crazy practice. Thanks vice.
My thoughts exactly, trapping people's souls for an eternity in a grotesque semi decomposed lump of flesh so you grow a couple more carrots. Much less horrifyingly barbaric 👍
About as crazy as believing that believing the wrong book will doom you to an eternal inferno
"Great Britain"
or
"the greatest thief of history"
They must finally give back those looted artefacts, it's ridiculous how they welcome thousands of tourists in their museum daily to proudly present the stolen African and asian artefacts. That's pure criminality!
HEY! I can watch this now! (Seriously why was this video blocked on your other channel???)
... because it's the truth
It’s lucky she’s talking about these important issues in a country which allows for an honest examination of the uncomfortable aspects of it’s history
China and middle eastern countries wouldn’t allow this.
Because the simple fact is that the museum and the majority of the artefacts will remain there for the foreseeable future and nothing she or anyone else says is going to change it. Every country is "guilty" of having artefacts that don't originate from where they currently are. Some people have tricked themselves into believe that their outrage is going to make even the slightest of difference and it just simply won't. A small minority are angry over this and the rest aren't. People condemn it but soon forget and get on with life.
Asians are the most jelous and western phobic people in history
You're burned, aren't you? Shameless acts
@@Kyle_Hubbard no, they won't. Ever heard of chinese art heist , that's what happens if they don't return soon
It's such a shame that all those 6459 items including (214) Human remains were stolen and take by force after destroying and burning our Villages by the British. It should be handed back with an apology to us. How can they hang the humans remains of our ancestors on museum for a display.
Thanks.
💝💖♥️🧿🧿
Brilliant reportage!
Wow I love this show ... I have learnt so much ❤
Dont learn kid . She is fooling u . She is just a racist
Outstanding!!!
Outshiting
Great Britain exict
VICE Asia: I am gonna over this man's fully carrier
Thank you for spreading awareness about this.
Spreading fake details??
-The museum officials: Why are filming here?
oh we are broadcasting the garbage dark history of your museum
-Have fun then we are not returning them
These artifacts wouldn’t have survived unless a powerful ,moral ,secure culture took them , and catalogued also recording there origin and history , kinda of a blessing in disguise, my opinion is return all artifacs of human history to there originate peoples as long as they have the security to preserve them for all of humanity to appreciate
Is she the same lady from an episode on Extreme Cheapskates??
No , but I see the resemblance. 🤣
this is important
I love indigineous people and cultures.
Indigenous Europeans are very interesting
Yes Europeans are amazing
@@nobodynothingberg4886 What do u mean?
@@mrcool2107 What do you mean?
I’m a Naga (Sumi) and I’m glad that this issue is now being addressed!!👍🏻I’m saddened to learn that 99% of us Nagas will never be able to visit and witness these (our) rich Nagas’ artefacts!!
They would even resort to stealing water from the ocean. Is there anything they have that hasn't been looted. Shameful behaviour.
It is mainly the anglo-franks
There are also some Assamese Architects in the British Museums(Northeastern india
Talk about exposure!!
I thought this was that girl from cheap skates
Omg me too
Unwashed thieves.
Plz also make a feature on human zoos that ran till the 20th century in Europe and Americas where the exotic people of Africa and elsewhere were kidnapped from their families and brought to the US and Europe to be kept in zoos for public viewing, much like wild animals.
europe isn't country
That last line. I gave a lot to say
...
British Empire - Thiefs empire
I love this woman. She’s doing God’s work
A deity is a myth aka a fantastic lie
British museum: *SWEATING PROFUSELY*
More like asians are jelous. British museum is not stolen parts. People are just crybabys that there country got colonised by European empires
@Mr Dumb
Stealing James Acaster metrial here..
There are lot of fake stuff on the black market as well.
Yes I just saw Lupin on Netflix its disgusting 😄
GOD bless you my sister for[doing his work'i have your back] telling the truth.
I saw Black Panther. I know the vibes.
Yes Wakanda for life 🦓🦓🦓🌟
What we call if someone stolen something ahhhh. theif!!!
So india is theif
@@mrcool2107 opps I think you didn't saw the video
@@imdadkhan47 I saw and it's all fake
@@mrcool2107 I feel sorry for you my dear and whole world knows now better that it's fake or not .......
why don't you read Keep their Marbles by Tiffany Jenkins? Great read. nobody owns these items. Keep them in museums because that is part of the story. So stop demanding we return items! By having them in a museum, we can learn about so many different cultures in 1 place.
A word is missing, *BRITAIN*..
IF N@ZI GERMANY DID N'T EXIST
BRITISH EMPIRE IS BEST VILLIAN IN THIS WORLD
I mean.... you’re sorta right...
No . Mongol and French was more worse than this
Also Japanese
Not really bud, nazis killed 6million, in 5 years, Britain's empire killed 10milion Indians in1770, other 4.3milion during the second World War by famine, both of them in bengal...
Did the French give them back for favourable oil rights I wonder
the best series, so please make more videos & expose more people to how european power was savage
Yes and she should also make video on how cruel asian empires was
"are filled with stolen objects" surely that's not grammatically correct...
What is? Pls curious
@@infinatiAM it's not stolen. Only jelous pricks say it .
I visited Pitt rivers last year and had the pleasure of speaking to a worker about the Haida totem pole. They informed me of the museum's mission to research and return items. Modern-day Haida nation and Haida Gwaii museum work with Pitt rivers. I was informed that only two are left in the world of such stature and preservation. Although I think they are doing great work and are one of the most insightful museums, there is still a long way to go. I was also informed about the visit by five Maasai tribe members which they witnessed, helping to provide information on the items they hold. Is this decolonising or neocolonising these objects? As a POC, I should not feel impressed by someone's effort to research or rightfully return an item that does not belong to them in the first place, as that should be standard as items they hold are part of my ancestral history too.
Here’s the thing the host is trying to whitewash a bunch of native customs. The Shuar tsantsas ARE war trophies. The Shuar and a few other tribes would conduct raids on their enemies and capture enemies and shrink their heads to prevent their angry spirits from enacting revenge. That’s LITERALLY the definition of a war trophy.
And the natives of Nagaland WERE headhunters. Prolific in their headhunting that the Nagas were feared by their neighbors and it was considered foolish to trek into Naga territory.
Does it absolve the British of their extensive looting? No of course not. But let’s not pretend like all of these cultures were innocent and didn’t take part in some particularly GRUESOME traditions.
Oh the brits
Stealing for 500 years...around the world.
But should Britain’s Egyptian artifacts go back to Egypt to be looted ? 🤔
🙄
Salute this young lady for her meticulous research and articulate presentation of the ugly and evil past of these western colonial countries
Found a wumao 🥱
Hope she gets to jail for being racist and providing misinformation
Isn't she the girl that NEVER spends money?
But how much stuff has been stolen. What does it realistically mean to return "everything". How does it work economically for museums. I really want to see someone talk more economically about what and how the art needs to be returned.
Ah yes u worked with British empire and saw how the loot things
18k views that's injustice to this video . It worth millions of views
The 4ty video - with the same presenter and same slogan like Britain britain britain.. here this vice presenter is slagging the u.k. off
The word loot is actually in Hindi “ लूट् “ which means to steal…… and guess what? The brits stole that too, how ironic
More like indians gifted them .
@@mrcool2107 I saw what you did there 😂
Nooo you just dont understand their culture :cryingemoji: . Listen, I do not care wethere they were war throphies or fertility lucky charms. A shrunken head is a shrunken head. It speaks for itself.
brithis dont create art they steal it to never return it with very lame excuses.
yoo
Thieves!
"Tell the Truth" - Concussion(2015)📰
Its called spoils of war 🤣
Soo true " This is the way" for 1000 of years, nothing new here.
has history classes sunk this low that its news to ppl?
Fact is this isn't taught in schools & folk don't bother going to museums or learning real world history.
Yes I think she was never educated
@@oomz1975 why would they teach such fake things in schools
this reporter bad af
How
I am not a fan of BRITAIN 😡
What have the british people done to you?
Why does she look like the Asian lady from extreme cheapskate
Most of it should be destroyed
Well return this stuff after China returns the nation of Tibet. Deal?
Why don’t we just share artifacts with each other and stop complaining. Every museum in the world contains artifacts that someone didn’t give them permission to have. If we fallowed this videos same logic, we wouldn’t have museums. These artifacts probably wouldn’t still be around if they weren’t sent back and put in a muesum.
The lies it's not y'all culture and they were stolen
They are not stolen. They are ours now.
No they are not y'alls
Another anti white expose lmao
Anti colonial.
Yes. It's Anti colonial. Nit anti white lol.
Same thing lol most countries benefitted from colonialism ironically lol
@@Halfy06 yes. But the past is the past. And colonialism did some bad things and good things.some Bad things like masscures. You can't deny: (
@@Halfy06 Lol. No, they didin't. I mean... yea "some" did. Mostly France and UK XD
They don't belong to any one country they belong to the world. These artifacts are priceless historical wells of knowledge. If the country of origin can prove that they have the resources to keep these items taken care of (security to protect them, climate controls to prevent damage, generators in case the power goes out, a stable government that won't immediately sell them on the black market to fund their child soldiers ect).they can have them back. Unfortunately most of these countries of origin have corrupt governments who will take these items and put them in their own houses or sell them on the black market and not keep them in museums for the people to learn. Or they experience civil unrest from extremists who go out of their way to destroy artifacts because they see them as idols (like what happened to Palmyra in the middle East) or there are frequent bombings which puts these artifacts in danger. This is bigger than one country. It's about preserving these priceless artifacts from ancient times. They belong to the world. At least we aren't purposefully destroying the artifacts like Turkey has done and is doing to millions of priceless christian documents and artifacts from before the collapse of the Byzantine empire for example.
Are you white racist?
@@scoobydicky9459 why would you call me a racist? Because I don't think countries who CAN'T take care of world artifacts should be given the world artifacts to take care of? That isn't racist. I don't even think you know what racism means since you immediately assumed I was a racist because I disagree. Which is not only racist in and of itself but a slap in the face to everyone who has ever experienced real racism. Whenever you use the term racist as an insult to call people and things that aren't racist it cheapens the term. And just like the boy who cried wolf it makes it much harder for people who have actually experienced racism because no one believes them because of people like you calling anyone that they disagree with racist. You know you could present facts and arguments to support your point of view and debate me like an adult but you obviously have nothing to back up your opinion and that's why you immediately jumped to calling me a racist.
@@WhitneyDahlin so aggrasive.
@@WhitneyDahlin :) thanks for being warm and kind to me.
Please i don't want to start an unwated fight. Sorry .but i just asked. I didn't mean. :)
Probably a good thing Britain kept these artifacts safe in their museums, most likely would not have survived today
Churchill killed 3 million indians in 1943 famine.
Blah blah blah. You snooze you lose
Only England stole everything that’s why so rich