Comments on: A Quick Talk: With Neil MacGregor http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/ Reflections on art and architecture by TIME critic Richard Lacayo. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:49:09 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: MJT http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/comment-page-1/#comment-164 MJT Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:06:43 +0000 http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/#comment-164 Was he able to say all of this with a straight face? Did he fidget at all when he said, "The current arrangement is more or less the ideal one." Unlike those necklaces that say "best friend" and are meant to be cracked in half and worn by the two friends in question, the sculptures of the Parthenon were not created to be contained in two separate countries. Through the actions of another, they were separated. We do not have to uphold what happened in the past, citing all sorts of debatable arguments of legalities and such to mask and justify the real reason for wanting to keep the marbles: They just don't feel like returning them. At least he could be honest about that. On a more artistic note, it takes a supreme level of arrogance to tamper with and alter an artist's original intended vision. A Director of any museum should know that. Was he able to say all of this with a straight face? Did he fidget at all when he said, "The current arrangement is more or less the ideal one."

Unlike those necklaces that say "best friend" and are meant to be cracked in half and worn by the two friends in question, the sculptures of the Parthenon were not created to be contained in two separate countries. Through the actions of another, they were separated. We do not have to uphold what happened in the past, citing all sorts of debatable arguments of legalities and such to mask and justify the real reason for wanting to keep the marbles: They just don't feel like returning them. At least he could be honest about that.

On a more artistic note, it takes a supreme level of arrogance to tamper with and alter an artist's original intended vision. A Director of any museum should know that.

]]> By: John Maroulis http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/comment-page-1/#comment-163 John Maroulis Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:02:55 +0000 http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/#comment-163 Political issues aside for the moment,why would a true art lover not want truncated torsos,the Poseidon,for example,to be united.Why shouldn't the remaining blocks of the frieze be seen together?Greece was not its own master when the MASSIVE removal began. MacGregor feels that because a high ranking Turkish official was present and it was all done in the open it is all proper and legal! Is there no compassion in the museum world for what happened to Greece during those hundreds of years? Why is nothing heard from the Venetians whose bombardment caused the destruction? How about some belated justice,. The Greek people want them back, is that not enough? Political issues aside for the moment,why would a true art lover not want truncated torsos,the Poseidon,for example,to be united.Why shouldn't the remaining blocks of the frieze be seen together?Greece was not its own master when the MASSIVE removal began. MacGregor feels that because a high ranking Turkish official was present and it was all done in the open it is all proper and legal! Is there no compassion in the museum world for what happened to Greece during those hundreds of years? Why is nothing heard from the Venetians whose bombardment caused the destruction? How about some belated justice,. The Greek people want them back, is that not enough?

]]> By: Dennis Menos http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Dennis Menos Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:12:07 +0000 http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/#comment-162 Reading Mr MacGregor's explanation as to why the Parthenon Sculptures should remain in the British Museum is like listening to President Bush's shifting rationale for invading Iraq and for keeping US forces there for over five years. The Director's latest explanations that the sculptures in London and Athens are part of two different stories, and that their removal from the temple was 'legal' because it was done in broad daylight, are so devoid of historical or legal basis as to make them irrelevant. All his public pronouncements aside, time has come for Director MacGregor to acknowledge what he must feel deeply in his heart: the Parthenon sculptures were illegally removed from the temple and have no business remaining in London. Reading Mr MacGregor's explanation as to why the Parthenon Sculptures should remain in the British Museum is like listening to President Bush's shifting rationale for invading Iraq and for keeping US forces there for over five years. The Director's latest explanations that the sculptures in London and Athens are part of two different stories, and that their removal from the temple was 'legal' because it was done in broad daylight, are so devoid of historical or legal basis as to make them irrelevant.
All his public pronouncements aside, time has come for Director MacGregor to acknowledge what he must feel deeply in his heart: the Parthenon sculptures were illegally removed from the temple and have no business remaining in London.

]]> By: Robert Mileham http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Robert Mileham Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:58:39 +0000 http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com/2007/11/06/a_quick_talk_with_neil_macgreg/#comment-161 We will be following your story with much interest over here in England too. We will be following your story with much interest over here in England too.

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