Book chapter
Preserving Valuable Objects and Sites, in Times of War and at Other Times
The Preservation of Art and Culture in Times of War, 52
14 Nov 2022
Abstract
Recognizing the link between basic values and cultural things provides reasons for preserving the latter. There are instrumental and intrinsic reasons for preserving valuable sites and works. Having introduced a long-standing tension between cosmopolitan and particularist approaches to cultural heritage, illustrated by a set of bronze zodiacal heads created for the Chinese court in the mid-eighteenth century and looted during the Second Opium War, the author argues that it is helpful to focus on basic values adumbrated by John Finnis in 1980. Three of these—knowledge, aesthetic experience, and religion—are especially relevant to material culture. Among the works used here to illustrate value and valuing is the British Museum’s monumental, sixth-century figure of Amitabha Buddha. One marker of value of particular things and practices is consciousness of their vulnerability, prior to any act of destruction. When iconoclastic acts are threatened, the only hope of avoiding destruction is for individuals in positions of power to care about basic values. Caring for basic values is important during warfare, because of the irrevocable consequences of carelessness, and commanders need to be informed about vulnerable works in the field.
Metrics
13 Record Views
2 citations in Scopus
Details
- Title
- Preserving Valuable Objects and Sites, in Times of War and at Other Times
- Creators
- Derek Gillman
- Publication Details
- The Preservation of Art and Culture in Times of War, 52
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press; New York
- Number of pages
- 25
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Art and Art History
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85143483661
- Other Identifier
- 991021892114804721