Not my ancestors! The importance of communication in the display of human remains: a case study from Australia

Abstract

Vikings: Beyond the Legend was shown at the Melbourne Museum (Australia) amongst a backdrop of local debate when it was decided after consultation with the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee that human remains as part of the exhibit would not be displayed. This article assesses reviews and online comments related to the exhibition in Melbourne and compares them with online reviews from Sydney, Colorado, and Nantes where the remains were displayed. Overall, initial public responses show little change between the institutions that did and did not display human remains. However, an increase in negative public response in Melbourne a month into the exhibition’s residency was noticeably. It is argued that news coverage from a parallel exhibition, Real Bodies, shifted communication focus which led to an increase in online participation. Discussion advocates for an in-depth analysis regarding the presentation of non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People remains in Australian museums.

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