Displaying war and peace in Oxford

In this insightful lecture, Dr. Paul Collins from the British Museum (UK) explores the challenges of displaying warfare-related artifacts in museums. Titled "Displaying War and Peace in Oxford," the talk critiques traditional approaches to showcasing archaeological materials as mere 'art'—organized by chronology and type, often lacking meaningful social narratives. Dr. Collins emphasizes how this method can fail to convey the real-life context of conflict, life, and death, especially with objects tied to warfare. Focusing on the redisplay of Luristan Bronzes in the newly refurbished ancient Middle East gallery at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, he introduces a more dynamic approach to museum exhibits—using 'constellations' of objects to better illustrate their production, symbolism, and multiple functions. Learn how museums can engage audiences more deeply by weaving stories of war, peace, and everyday life into their displays. #MuseumStudies #Archaeology #LuristanBronzes #AshmoleanMuseum #CulturalHeritage #MiddleEastHistory #PaulCollins #BritishMuseum