|
|
Re: [!] Support the Musee de l'Homme (Paris) !
ROCHU@vm.amu.edu.pl
Thu, 21 Nov 96 20:11:07 CET
In article <56sbde$gen@uni2f.unige.ch>
Comite de Defense du Musee de l'Homme <phm@mnhn.fr> (by way of David Roessli) writes:
>
>
>DEFENCE COMMITEE FOR THE MUSEE DE L'HOMME, PARIS
>
>* Against its destruction and replacement by a museum of 'First Arts'
>* For its renovation and maintenance within the Museum National d'Histoire
>Naturelle
>
>What is the Musee de L'Homme?
>
>Like the Vincennes Zoo, the Jardin des Plantes, the Arboretum Chevreloup, the
>station at Brunoy, etc., the Musee de l'Homme (Museum of Mankind) forms part
>of the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, created by government decree and
>placed under the aegis of the Ministry for Education. By virtue of its three
>departments (Anthropology, Ethnology and Prehistory), their collections, and
>the knowledge they represent, the Musee de l'Homme is the only establishment
>in the world which represents the biological and cultural diversity of
>humanity in a single place.
>
>Its main originality resides in the fact that it draws together three aims:
>conservation; research; and teaching and promotion of knowledge. It
>represents a centre for the disciplines which it helps develop. As a result,
>it receives many school groups. Specialists from the world over find an
>unique situation for research and exchange in its laboratories associated
>with the scientific collections.
>
>
>
>Why is the Musee de l'Homme under threat?
>
>A commission, instigated by the French President, has decided to replace it
>with a 'Museum of Civilisations and First Arts' (Ministerial meeting of 7
>October 1996).
>
>The Musee de l'Homme would disappear. The collections of the department of
>Ethnology, containing over 300,000 objects, would be attributed to the
>Ministry of Culture and hence diverted from their scientific vocation. The
>new museum would reduce the artefacts to just their aesthetic dimension, thus
>removing them from their historical and cultural context. The origins and
>biological diversity of humans would no longer appear as the essential
>explanatory framework for the development of their civilisations, cultures
>and arts.
>
>The proposed museum would be a new Public Administration Establishment (EPA),
>which would open the door to temporary work contracts for its running. This
>project implies a considerable waste of human and financial resources, due to
>the fragmentation of services and research departments. What would happen to
>the permanent staff of the National Education and Research in this context?
>
>
>
>What do we want?
>
>We call for the withdrawal of the project to create a museum of 'First Arts'
>in place of the Musee de l'Homme. This project will not meet the needs of the
>general public and nor will it be in the interests of scientific research and
>teaching.
>
>We are asking for the renovation of the present Musee de l'Homme and its
>maintenance within the Museum d'Histoire naturelle and the Ministry for
>Education.
>
>We make this appeal all those who value the Musee de l'Homme and its
>commitment to research and teaching. Please express your support for the aims
>of the committee by completing and returning the form below, or by completing
>our online bulletin at,
>
>http://anthropologie.unige.ch/cdmh/cdmh-us.html
>
>
>I support the Committee for the defence of the Musee de l'Homme
>
>SURNAME, first name:
>
>Address:
>
>Position:
>
>E-mail:
>
>Signature:
>
>Send to: Comite de Defense du Musee de l'Homme, 17 Place du Trocadero, 75116
>PARIS, France. E-mail: phm@mnhn.fr
|