Disputed Art

The British Museum’s argument is that the Parthenon Marbles can be viewed as part of the world civilization whereas in Athens only as Athenian civilization. However the reason for seeing the Marbles as part of a discourse on the world’s various civilizations is because the British Museum has various artifacts from all over the world; due to colonization. Yet this argument is redundant, thanks to globalization. Tourism is a phenomenon of globalization; and as more people pour into Athens they would be able to see the whole Frieze in the context it came from. To see part of Marble in Athens juxtaposed alongside pieces of Rome and Egypt may lend a momentary insight into what the world has produced in terms of art and civilization but it is completely out of scope and context - especially when you leave the museum and step into the London drizzle.