"In order to understand a society, we must examine the contents of its museums and the subjects of its memorials. What a society chooses to preserve, display, and commemorate is the truest indicator of what the society values."
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The issue above states that the truest indicator of what a society values is either held in its museums, or commemorated in its memorials. Whilst this could be true on a case by case basis, it does not take into account private collections or repatriation of historical Sovereign items. Furthermore, it ignores items that do not make it into museums, yet are still a valid indication of what a society values, such as landmarks.
Private collectors tend to be wealthy individuals spending vast sums of money on everything from paintings to classic cars. Due to the spending power of wealthy indivduals, they can outbid any museum; Roman Abramovich recently paid $35 million for a painting that could never see the inside of a museum, and Steve Wynn owns several Picasso works which are displayed in the lobbies of his hotels. The works of Picasso may show the values of 20th Century Spain, yet they are displayed in a hotel thousands of miles away in Las Vegas.
To elaborate, it can be observed that the Tsars of Russia commisioned some astounding works of art before the Revolution, which unfortunately got lost in the anarchy of World War Two. Today some of the wealthiest Russians in the World are based in the United Kingdom, and have been buying the rediscovered Russian art at an alarming rate. Some of the largest sales of Russian paintings are made in the United Kingdom, and one can infer that these works will remain there. If Russian museums are missing large quantities of historical paintings, can they really be a true indicator of what their society values?
In addtion, the statement ignores other indicators of what a society values. A City landmark for example, is not held in a museum nor a memorial, yet it could be one of the most poignant value indicators. The Houses of Parliament are not held in a museum nor are they a memorial, yet they are perhaps one of the truest examples of Democracy in the World. The Twin Towers in New York were another excellent example of the values of a society; they were not housed in a museum either.
To conclude, one can only truly understand the values of a society by examing everything that society has produced throughout history, regardless of where they end up. This could be works of art, literature or literature. Whilst museums are always a good start, they will never capture everything.
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The issue above states that the truest indicator of what a society values is either held in its museums, or commemorated in its memorials. Whilst this could be true on a case by case basis, it does not take into account private collections or repatriation of historical Sovereign items. Furthermore, it ignores items that do not make it into museums, yet are still a valid indication of what a society values, such as landmarks.
Private collectors tend to be wealthy individuals spending vast sums of money on everything from paintings to classic cars. Due to the spending power of wealthy indivduals, they can outbid any museum; Roman Abramovich recently paid $35 million for a painting that could never see the inside of a museum, and Steve Wynn owns several Picasso works which are displayed in the lobbies of his hotels. The works of Picasso may show the values of 20th Century Spain, yet they are displayed in a hotel thousands of miles away in Las Vegas.
To elaborate, it can be observed that the Tsars of Russia commisioned some astounding works of art before the Revolution, which unfortunately got lost in the anarchy of World War Two. Today some of the wealthiest Russians in the World are based in the United Kingdom, and have been buying the rediscovered Russian art at an alarming rate. Some of the largest sales of Russian paintings are made in the United Kingdom, and one can infer that these works will remain there. If Russian museums are missing large quantities of historical paintings, can they really be a true indicator of what their society values?
In addtion, the statement ignores other indicators of what a society values. A City landmark for example, is not held in a museum nor a memorial, yet it could be one of the most poignant value indicators. The Houses of Parliament are not held in a museum nor are they a memorial, yet they are perhaps one of the truest examples of Democracy in the World. The Twin Towers in New York were another excellent example of the values of a society; they were not housed in a museum either.
To conclude, one can only truly understand the values of a society by examing everything that society has produced throughout history, regardless of where they end up. This could be works of art, literature or literature. Whilst museums are always a good start, they will never capture everything.
