Theoretical Frameworks for Researching Museum Curators and the Illicit Antiquities Trade

• In Event: Criminogenic Entanglements with Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Current research on the illicit antiquities trade has not yet focused on museum curators as stakeholders in the market. Curators are in a unique position, as they engage in professional practices that connect to the illicit antiquities trade within their institutional setting. This paper explores the roles that curators have in facilitating, passively and actively, the illicit trade in antiquities and outlines a theoretical framework to situate curators’ perspectives. Building on ongoing doctoral research, this paper will delve into several relevant theories, which will serve as a foundation for discussing and evaluating the complex relationship between curators and the illicit antiquities trade.
The paper will first outline zemiology, a beneficial framework to highlight the harms caused by market end actors. Following this will be an examination of Bourdieu’s theories of capital, habitus, field, and doxa as applied to the illicit antiquities market. This will be combined with a discussion of convenience theory and neutralisation theory. Legitimacy and trust emerge as key topics to frame curators’ perspectives and behaviours in the illicit antiquities market.
By combining these theoretical frameworks, we can gain valuable insights into the mechanisms and implications of curatorial involvement in this controversial aspect of the art world.

Author

• Claire Hanrahan, University of Glasgow