Or so ICOM hopes in its effort to gain funding from the cash poor EU to help promote its continuing propaganda effort against the antiquities trade and at the same time perhaps provide some additional gainful employment for academics with an axe to grind against collectors.
I'm afraid this proposal looks to be little more than a state sponsored version of Wikiloot. Any funding would be better spent on promoting more effective enforcement in source countries, and better yet more liberal laws in such countries that actually promote the public to get involved in preserving heritage.
Showing posts with label WikiLoot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WikiLoot. Show all posts
What Ever Happened to Wikiloot?
I�ve been critical of Wikiloot, what with its confusion of journalism with activism, the prospects for abuse, and the fact that in the end it is really just another diversion from much needed scrutiny of the poor cultural heritage policies of many source countries. There has been some continuing discussion of the project in the blogosphere, but no indication that Wikiloot remains anything other than a proposal. What has become of Wikiloot?
As WikiLeak Diversion Continues, Greece Faces Meltdown
The proposed Wikileak vigilante effort to reclaim lost antiquities for Greece and Italy must be considered a diversion compared to the meltdown facing Greece's cultural establishment. See http://www.pri.org/stories/politics-society/government/greek-antiquities-at-risk-as-budgets-shrink-economy-falters-8929.html
The sad thing is that archaeologists seem as out of touch as ever. They are apparently hoping that a poster campaign will stave off massive budget cuts.
What is actually needed is a dose of reality and recognition that conservation can no longer be associated with control by the bankrupt Greek state. Turkey has finally recognized that not all artifacts should be in museums; it's okay to sell duplicates. Greece should do the same.
It's also interesting to note that Jack Davis, director of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, argues that collectors in the Middle East and China are the real drivers of any looting.
The sad thing is that archaeologists seem as out of touch as ever. They are apparently hoping that a poster campaign will stave off massive budget cuts.
What is actually needed is a dose of reality and recognition that conservation can no longer be associated with control by the bankrupt Greek state. Turkey has finally recognized that not all artifacts should be in museums; it's okay to sell duplicates. Greece should do the same.
It's also interesting to note that Jack Davis, director of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, argues that collectors in the Middle East and China are the real drivers of any looting.
Questions About Provenance of WikiLoot Documents Remain
Jason Felch has now responded to my request for details about the provenance of his WikiLoot archive as follows:
As with our reporting for the LA Times and in Chasing Aphrodite, our information was obtained from a wide variety of sources over several years of reporting. Some of it is public record and has come to light through various court cases. Some comes from sources who have asked to remain confidential. Our hope is that users may eventually contribute additional information to the project to expand its reach.
My suggestion would be that to the extent WikiLoot uploads information on the web, it identifies its specific source, and only if necessary states that the source is "confidential."
Why is this necessary?
Simply, not all documentary evidence has the same evidentary value. One would hope the WikiLoot agrees, particularly because of the proposal as now framed carries with it the danger of provoking a "witch hunt."
Addendum:
I note Jason Felch posted this on his WikiLeak Facebook page in response to my questions:
Jason Felch
2:15pm Mar 16
I like your suggestion, Peter. Attribution of sources is an important part of journalism.
As with our reporting for the LA Times and in Chasing Aphrodite, our information was obtained from a wide variety of sources over several years of reporting. Some of it is public record and has come to light through various court cases. Some comes from sources who have asked to remain confidential. Our hope is that users may eventually contribute additional information to the project to expand its reach.
My suggestion would be that to the extent WikiLoot uploads information on the web, it identifies its specific source, and only if necessary states that the source is "confidential."
Why is this necessary?
Simply, not all documentary evidence has the same evidentary value. One would hope the WikiLoot agrees, particularly because of the proposal as now framed carries with it the danger of provoking a "witch hunt."
Addendum:
I note Jason Felch posted this on his WikiLeak Facebook page in response to my questions:
Jason Felch
2:15pm Mar 16
I like your suggestion, Peter. Attribution of sources is an important part of journalism.
Questions About Provenance of WikiLoot Documents �Silly�?
�Chasing Aphrodite� author Jason Felch has called my questions about the provenance of the source documents for his �WikiLoot� project �silly.� But are they?
Specifically, I asked Mr. Felch on his �Chasing Aphrodite� blog:
�What is the source of these documents? Were they released legally or leaked unofficially? There would be some considerable irony if you are going to hunt looted material with �looted� documents. If the latter, shouldn't the NSPA apply?�
He responded:
�Your crack about nspa and "looted" documents is silly. I know you're used to fighting for your cause in the trenches, but hope you have more constructive thoughts to contribute about WikiLoot soon. We're open to them.�
See http://chasingaphrodite.com/2012/03/12/introducing-wikiloot-your-chance-to-fight-the-illicit-antiquities-trade/#comments
Yet, Mr. Felch strongly made the point at a recent talk in Washington, D.C., that museums holding artifacts illicitly excavated under Italian or Greek law were holding stolen goods and were subject to potential prosecution by the US Department of Justice under the National Stolen Property Act.
See http://chasingaphrodite.com/2012/02/08/video-chasing-aphrodite-at-the-national-press-club-in-washington-dc/
Moreover, the �Chasing Aphrodite� blog has discussed Professor Urice�s article on the subject.
See http://chasingaphrodite.com/2011/12/05/looted-antiquities-at-american-museums-an-on-going-crime-law-professor-argues/
Why wouldn�t the same analysis apply to illicitly obtained Italian and Greek government documents?
WikiLoot is a serious project that deserves some serious questions asked about it. To ask such questions, particularly at the invitation of WikiLoot itself, is not silly.
Specifically, I asked Mr. Felch on his �Chasing Aphrodite� blog:
�What is the source of these documents? Were they released legally or leaked unofficially? There would be some considerable irony if you are going to hunt looted material with �looted� documents. If the latter, shouldn't the NSPA apply?�
He responded:
�Your crack about nspa and "looted" documents is silly. I know you're used to fighting for your cause in the trenches, but hope you have more constructive thoughts to contribute about WikiLoot soon. We're open to them.�
See http://chasingaphrodite.com/2012/03/12/introducing-wikiloot-your-chance-to-fight-the-illicit-antiquities-trade/#comments
Yet, Mr. Felch strongly made the point at a recent talk in Washington, D.C., that museums holding artifacts illicitly excavated under Italian or Greek law were holding stolen goods and were subject to potential prosecution by the US Department of Justice under the National Stolen Property Act.
See http://chasingaphrodite.com/2012/02/08/video-chasing-aphrodite-at-the-national-press-club-in-washington-dc/
Moreover, the �Chasing Aphrodite� blog has discussed Professor Urice�s article on the subject.
See http://chasingaphrodite.com/2011/12/05/looted-antiquities-at-american-museums-an-on-going-crime-law-professor-argues/
Why wouldn�t the same analysis apply to illicitly obtained Italian and Greek government documents?
WikiLoot is a serious project that deserves some serious questions asked about it. To ask such questions, particularly at the invitation of WikiLoot itself, is not silly.
High Tech Witch Hunt?
The authors of Chasing Aphrodite have now embarked on a new plan. Apparently, they hope to put out documentation received from Italian and Greek law enforcement onto the web, and then rely on activists to play the part of vigilantes in identifying looted material on the market and in museums. See http://chasingaphrodite.com/2012/03/12/introducing-wikiloot-your-chance-to-fight-the-illicit-antiquities-trade/
I agree with the following comment on their blog:
Elizabeth Marlowe March 12, 2012 at 6:33 pm Reply
Has the photo archive been made available to the museums, dealers and auction houses yet? The �gotcha� approach of this project seems unnecessarily antagonistic. If the goal is to embarrass museums, then yes, let members of the public catch them with their pants down. But if the goal is to track down as many of the pieces in the Medici archive as possible, then wouldn�t it be more productive to let the museums check the archives against their own inventories and come clean first? And THEN post the photos of whatever pieces still haven�t been located?
I would also note that this project presumably blurs the lines between investigative journalism and activism. But that is more an issue of journalistic ethics than cultural property law.
I agree with the following comment on their blog:
Elizabeth Marlowe March 12, 2012 at 6:33 pm Reply
Has the photo archive been made available to the museums, dealers and auction houses yet? The �gotcha� approach of this project seems unnecessarily antagonistic. If the goal is to embarrass museums, then yes, let members of the public catch them with their pants down. But if the goal is to track down as many of the pieces in the Medici archive as possible, then wouldn�t it be more productive to let the museums check the archives against their own inventories and come clean first? And THEN post the photos of whatever pieces still haven�t been located?
I would also note that this project presumably blurs the lines between investigative journalism and activism. But that is more an issue of journalistic ethics than cultural property law.
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