OH you bet your ASS i have thoughts on that jewellery heist.
Because there is something to be said here about the fallacy that (European) museums are inherently safer and better at protecting the objects they house (largely in comparison to non-European museums). This idea gets beaten to absolute death by one of my professors for good reason.
And there is obviously something else to be said about the taking of jewels from non-European nations. And how the Louvre is not somehow free of sin just because it was the victim of a crime.
and of course there is ALSO something to say about how spectacle and the history/handling of an object (its "social life" if you want the fancy term) changes its meaning and importance.
AND THERE IS STILL MORE TO SAY about the state of France as a country, and the wider political situation there (that honestly I don't feel qualified enough to talk about).
I will speak in defence of the establishment.
*cue shocked, appalled gasps*
While there is UNDENIABLY a history of exploitation associated with these jewels, they... actually belonged to France. Like, they weren't stolen. And I hate that that's the bar, but it does mean the theft isnt some weird poetic justice. It's just... people stealing from France. From the French people.
Which becomes even more tragic when you realise these stones... they're virtually extinct. Like, we can't just go get more. Stones that are as large as they were, with the quality that they had... there aren't any more of them to be mined up.
And the practices used to create those pieces have largely fallen out of fashion. Finding artisans who could even come close to replicating them is... hard, to say the least.
These pieces weren't insured because they were deemed priceless. a part of history. Something that could literally never be recreated because of their unique history and incredible workmanship. French through and through. They were put on display for the enjoyment and enrichment of the public. Say what you will about museums as a concept, I think that's all worth something.
And whatever your scruples may be, I think it's also hard to deny there's some tragedy in the idea these pieces might be... cut up. Sold off for a fraction of their value. Never seen again. Or worse, ending up in some old fart's private collection until his children "graciously" return it to the public.
It is one of those rare situations in which I'm forced to admit... yeah, these people done fucked up.
However, my friends and I will still be dressing up as the robbers for Halloween, thank you and goodnight.
kianamaiart
pixelskylines
gummygunk
annaxmalina
kaledo-art
