The Anticolonial Museum: Reclaiming Our Colonial Heritage

The Anticolonial Museum acknowledges the consequences of colonialism and proposes a radical revision of museums rhetoric on decolonization, public image, and practices. It brings together reflections on decolonization through the observation of museum performance and discourse, identifying the inherent paradoxes reflected in museum work. The book aims to view the museum as a locus for multiple enunciations, reconnecting subjectivities and restoring material fluxes to repair the bonds frayed by colonialism and modernity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 156 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The Anticolonial Museum recognizes the profound consequences of colonialism in the contemporary work of museums. By critically examining museum theory, it advocates for a radical reimagining of museums' rhetoric on decolonization, as well as their public image and practices. Through a compilation of reflections on decolonization observed through the lens of museum performance and discourse, the author explores current practices in response to the social claims of marginalized groups and activists. Drawing from a genealogy of decolonial thinking in museology, Brulon Soares uncovers the inherent paradoxes inherent in museum work. Rather than solely focusing on the realities of colonized countries or the contexts of former imperialist nations, this book raises anticolonial questions and seeks to find common ground among the diverse actors involved in museums: scholars, students, curators, practitioners, community members, and Indigenous creators.

One of the central objectives of this book is to perceive the museum as a site for multiple enunciations, thereby identifying the active potential within museum practice to reconnect subjectivities and restore material fluxes, thereby repairing the bonds that have been frayed by colonialism and the expanding forces of modernity.

The Anticolonial Museum holds immense appeal to researchers and students actively engaged in the study of decolonization. Moreover, it serves as an essential resource for practitioners seeking to reevaluate the impact of coloniality on their own position and daily practices. By delving into the complexities of colonialism and its enduring legacies, this book offers valuable insights and perspectives that can contribute to the ongoing efforts towards decolonization and the pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive world.

Weight: 264g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032437941