GGS-Teaching Assistantship Programme: Colonial Archives and the Question of Restitution

This lecture is part of the GGS Teaching Assistantship Programme 2020

Content:

The last years have seen an increase in reporting on the question of colonial restitution of looted objects, including artifacts, artworks, and even human remains. Museums across Europe have responded to this question by conducting provenance research by examining the ways in which colonists acquired the objects that later ended up in museum collections. Ideally this research leads to more transparency regarding the objects’ placement in Europe or even to their return to countries of their origin. However, documents of colonial administration removed from their location in the previously colonized world to Europe have received comparatively little attention in the public discourse. In contrast to this media silence, activists from both former colonies and Europe have advocated archival restitution for decades.

For international doctoral students it is often difficult to gather teaching experience at JLU Giessen as lectures on Bachelor's and Master's level are mainly held in German. Therefore, the GGS is happy to announce the eighth round of the "GGS-Teaching Assistantship Programme". The aim of the GGS Teaching Assistantship Programme is to offer international doctoral students the chance to gather teaching experience which is a key skill if you intend to pursue an academic career.

Further information is available in the syllabus.