Digital Repatriation of Cultural Heritage:Concepts,Practices,and Chinese Approaches
Digital repatriation can be de-scribed as a process of returning cultural heritage assets,including digital photographs,collections,3D scans,and audio recordings,to their original communities.It also encompasses the restitution of intangible cultural heritage,such as traditional skills and knowledge,through digital means.In recent years,the perspectives of the European and American museum communities regarding cultural heritage acquired through illegal means have been changing.They now regard the return of cultural heritage as an opportunity to enhance the knowl-edge and research surrounding these collections.Meanwhile,it may facilitate setting up a rapport with the original community,create dialogue about contested heritages,and have in-depth discussions on related cultural issues.Ergo,this article tries to explore methodologies for returning cultural herit-age and aims to identify effective practices for this"return"in the digital era.The article reviewed the historical develop-ment and evolution of the concept of cultural herit-age return,including the perspectives presented in international treatises,inadequacies in addressing the looting and illegal trade of cultural artifacts,and three typical perspectives regarding this ques-tion:Cultural nationalism,cultural international-ism,and object-contextualism.Additionally,this article proposes an understanding of cultural herit-age return that emphasizes restoring,repairing,and revitalizing cultural heritage which can be con-ceptualized as a shaping of shared space,namely a"virtual return."The goal of this"return"is to reintegrate dispersed heritage into its source com-munity and create a shared space among heritage-holding institutions,source communities,interest-ed scholars,and the general public.Early exam-ples of digital repatriation initiatives in the museum sector at the beginning of the 21st century are also examined.The unique properties of non-fungible tokens(NFTs)can link digital and physical assets togeth-er to establish ownership,providing a unique"dig-ital identity"for cultural heritage.Such develop-ments may offer promising solutions for the tradi-tional problem of cultural heritage return.This ar-ticle has reasons to believe that to address the chal-lenges adequately of digital returns,a dual owner-ship model should be established.In addition,this discussion appears to involve several critical is-sues,including the understanding of cultural herit-age digital returns by the possessor countries and the source countries or communities,the sharing of rights in digital collections,the management of these collections,and legal implications.Lastly,this article proposes a plan for the dig-ital return of cultural heritage from a Chinese per-spective,which is believed to contribute to the es-tablishment of a new type of international conven-tion and international relations.First,the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity should incorporate new elements,such as the con-cept of common interests and sustainable develop-ment,advocating for a cooperative consultation mechanism between source and possessor countries based on mutual respect for history and objective reality,alongside an ethos of seeking common ground while acknowledging differences.Second,based on a new dual ownership mechanism,a framework of rights and obligations for all parties involved in the digital repatriation of cultural herit-age should be established.Third,cooperation be-tween source and possessing countries in the exhi-bition,research,and utilization of cultural heritage should be strengthened through digital return ef-forts.Finally,it is concluded there is a pressing need to promote the resolution of cultural heritage return issues through digital platforms and establish relevant international conventions.
cultural heritagedigital returninternational conventionsChinese plan
万方数据
维普
