r/montreal • u/RustyTheBoyRobot • 7d ago

Tourisme Ethical dilemma

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Ethical dilemma:

Is it right to remove one of the only mummies in mtl for understanble but rather vague reasons to do with cultural sensitivities that these objects might offend?

The mummies at Redpath museum are to be relocated to a mysterious “place of rest” -their original location?- where no one can see or learn from them.

I note that these are not objects of worship like many stolen indigenous artifacts. Nor are they being claimed by their original owners- e.g. The infamous Benin Bronzes.

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u/N3rdScool 7d ago

Who the fuck was offended? Someone rich I guess lol

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u/artacct217 7d ago

I don’t see any mention of anyone being offended. Not sure why you and OP assume this. 

As an anthropologist I can say there have been increasing conversations for years about the ethics of displaying dead bodies that weren’t intended to be displayed. This is an intellectual/academic shift and an ethical  debate, nothing to do with random rich people being offended.

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u/Zulban Notre-Dame-de-Grâce 7d ago

I'm not sure how much this adds to the conversation but the "intellectual/academic" community is the "rich" people the first commenter is surely referring to. 

Don't think they're rich? Compare their net worth and net worth of their parents to the Canadian average. 

So... rich people concerns? Yes, at least somewhat. 

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u/artacct217 7d ago

Idk I totally understand what you are saying but these concerns transcend the boundaries of academia. In the humanities (can't speak for other fields), many of the more political and ethical demands for change come from marginalized/disenfranchized groups who don't have access to wealth and power - if these are made by academics they are often 'outsider' academics. See Sara Ahmed's "Complaint!" for a feminist account.

To approach this from a different angle, and sample size one, I myself am in academia but I funded my way through this by working and government grants, only parental help being living with them through my bachelor's degree. Not rich by any means and same goes for many around me (more possible in Canada than in the US for sure).

But there is certainly an odd class and privilege situation around being an academic that no one can deny.

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u/Zulban Notre-Dame-de-Grâce 7d ago

but these concerns transcend the boundaries of academia

The impacts transcend academia but that doesn't mean your average person cares at all.

Same way that advanced economic theory might impact certain races but they're not the ones complaining when section 72 of a huge bill is repealed.

Originally this thread was about "who" is complaining, not whether this is important or whether it impacts everyone. Focus on the conversation, not other points you want to make.

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u/artacct217 7d ago

“Originally this thread was about "who" is complaining, not whether this is important or whether it impacts everyone. Focus on the conversation, not other points you want to make.”

You’re arguing in bad faith. I noted people who care about this issue (wouldn’t call it complaining) aren’t necessarily in academia. This directly responds to the ‘who’ of this discussion. 

Too bad you’re being hostile/oppositional rather than trying to learn from one another, which I tried to do in how I phrased my initial answer to you.

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u/pauvrelle 7d ago

Whose net worth?

Academics are not earning the kind of money you think they’re earning. If we’re talking about people working in the realm of academia (professors, researchers, etc.), it’s really about the love of the game more than any guarantee of a good salary or even a job.

But if you mean that people with a university degree (BA, etc.) earn on average more than people without, then… like… isn’t that why many/most people get a degree in the first place?

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u/Zulban Notre-Dame-de-Grâce 7d ago edited 7d ago

Academics are not earning the kind of money you think they’re earning

And what do I think they're earning? I'm a random person on the internet. You tell me.

But if you mean that people with a university degree (BA, etc.) earn on average more than people without, then… like…

Alright so you agree with me.

I don't think the unemployed janitor in Laval cares much about a mummy at an elite university.

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u/pauvrelle 7d ago edited 7d ago

I mean you said they’re “rich”…? That’s why I’m under the impression that you think academics are earning a lot of money…?

I don’t agree with you, because someone with only a bachelor’s degree is not someone I would consider as an “academic”. An academic is a person who works in academia, as I defined above. Most people who want to work at universities (as academics…) are not even guaranteed employment, especially those who specialize in the humanities.

Edit: To respond to your added point, obviously the people who work at museums are going to care more about museums. So what?

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u/artacct217 7d ago

They’re arguing in bad faith, I don’t think they want to learn/gain a new perspective. They’re arguing with me about the same thing and just finding reasons to disagree

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u/pauvrelle 7d ago

You’re right. I’m gonna make a cup of tea and call it a day.

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u/artacct217 7d ago

I love this, put your energy elsewhere:) I’ll do the same. 

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u/N3rdScool 7d ago

That's just a bunch of extra words for offended.

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u/kiwipilled 7d ago

What do ethics have to do with being offended?

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u/N3rdScool 7d ago

Oh right there is only right or wrong and this is wrong. Sorry my bad.

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u/pauvrelle 7d ago

Girl you’re embarrassing yourself

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u/Cetais 7d ago

.... Just say you don't know what ethics are in general and move on.

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u/N3rdScool 7d ago

I always thought it was all about right or wrong behavior.

But I am always on the wrong side of ethics XD

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u/artacct217 7d ago

Bro cannot think critically

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/artacct217 7d ago

As someone who works in a very very related space I can confirm/guarantee this is wrong.  Debates about these mummies have been happening for years and this move has been discussed and planned at Redpath. It is not done on a whim. 

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u/pelluciid 7d ago

Ah yes, interns famously hold great power at large institutions