Essay - Art the Elgin Marbles Debate the Purpose of This Paper...

Art

The Elgin Marbles Debate

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of exhibits in the British Museum. Specifically it will discuss the debate surrounding the Elgin Marbles, and why *****se sculptures should remain in the museum. The Elgin Marbles, also known as ***** Parthenon ***** are ancient Greek works of art that Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin exported to Great Br*****ain in 1806. The British ***** purchased the marbles in 1816 and have been on display in the Museum ever s*****ce. There is a hotly c*****tested debate surrounding the marbles. Greece would like ***** ***** them back, and the ***** feel *****y have a long tradition of sharing them with the public. There are two sides to every story, and th***** is no exception. The British Museum should keep *****e marbles, because they are a good home for ***** and they reach a wider audience than they might ***** in Greece.

It is clear the ***** Marbles are incredible works ***** *****, and ***** deserve to be seen by ***** greatest num*****r of people possible. Personally, I did not know ***** th***** controversy regarding the *****, ***** reading about it gave me a clearer understanding of ancient artifacts and *****ir ownership ***** display. While I can certainly understand why ***** would like the artifacts back, it seems that if that occurred, it ***** simply open up an assortment of problems for every museum in ***** world. Where did their displays come from, *****d who owns them now? *****f one country can reclaim treasures, then what would stop other countries from doing the same thing? It seems that museums are the best place ***** these artifacts, because they take c***** of them, ***** allow the publi***** to view them, and they protect them. I am ***** so sure that would happen with many of the artifacts if they were returned to ***** native countries. They might actually deteriorate or be***** damaged if the country did not h*****le, store, and display them correctly. *****s purchased these items in good faith, and in effect are the owners, so ***** have a claim on the ***** ***** a commitment to them. Reading these articles ***** me a clearer picture of ***** *****, and convinced me they should stay where they are. ***** al***** made me want to ***** the marbles in person!

***** expected, many people believe the marbles should be ***** ***** Greece for a variety of reasons. One reason is that the Museum has actu*****ly damaged the marbles while car*****g for them. Uninformed Museum staff *****lieved the marbles should be bright white ***** had become dirty ***** age, and so they "cleaned" them with caustic cleaners and tools, which damaged the marbles' coloring ***** surface. Thus, ***** marbles suffered in the Museum, and ***** would not ***** in Greece. In addition, many people ***** *****y ***** have never been removed from ***** in the first place, ***** that Elgin literally stole the ar*****rk