Arts & Culture
How Museum Curation Challenges or Reinforces Colonial Narratives of National Identity
Quick fact
A 2018 survey found that over 90% of African artifacts in major European museums were acquired during the colonial era, often without documented consent—yet many displays historically presented them as neutral evidence of 'civilizations' rather than contested possessions.
Why this is interesting
You've probably walked through a museum and felt you were seeing history 'as it was.' But what if the exhibits were carefully arranged to tell a story that serves some people and erases others? How do the choices of curators either keep a colonial version of national identity alive or tear it down?