This is a past event
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Destroying History: The War Against Art and Cultural Heritage in the Middle East 

Thursday, December 3, 2015
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Art Museum
Fath Auditorium
953 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45202 

R.S.V.P
Kindly R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, November 25.

About the talk: The Middle East is home to the world's oldest civilizations and some of the most spectacular archaeological ruins and wonders of the world. In recent years, however, this cultural heritage has been under attack, both literally and figuratively, from Islamist groups. Ranging from the bombing of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Taliban controlled Afghanistan in 2001 to the recent destruction by ISIS of the beautiful ruins in Palmyra Syria, the region's art has been plundered and destroyed for economic, political and religious reasons. Why has there been this recent surge in this ruinous behavior? Who benefits from this and how is this destruction justified? In this lecture, historian Magnus T. Bernhardsson of Williams College will provide an overview of what sites have been wrecked, describe the religious justifications for these attacks, and consider what the political aims may be. It is a sad and troubling trend that the region with the world's oldest history is witnessing a systematic elimination of the physical remnants of our shared heritage.

About the speaker: Magnus Bernhardsson, Professor of History, joined the Williams College faculty in 2003 after receiving his PhD in history from Yale University. He is the author of Reclaiming a Plundered Past: Archaeology and Nationalism in Modern Iraq. His research is concerned with modern Iraqi history, U.S.-Iraqi relations 1900-2000, as well as archaeology and nationalism in the modern Middle East. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Nelson Bushnell Prize for excellence in teaching from Williams, served as Gaudino Scholar from 2011 to 2014 and founded the Human Library Project at Williams in 2014.

Please use the DeWitt Entrance on the east side of the museum, near the handicap-accessible parking. Parking is free for Art Museum members or $4 per vehicle for non-members.

Questions? Please contact Suzanne Schindler '94 at sschind@yahoo.com.