The Slow Death of the Diorama: Tribal and Ethnographic Museums in India since Independence
During colonial times, dioramas were commonly used to portray the diverse peoples of India. They depicted essentialised human types through plaster models in rural settings, engaged in typical activities, and dated back to the exhibition of human beings in universal expositions held in Calcutta, Del...
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Published in | South Asia Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 181 - 205 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Abingdon
Routledge
02.01.2024
Taylor & Francis Ltd |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | During colonial times, dioramas were commonly used to portray the diverse peoples of India. They depicted essentialised human types through plaster models in rural settings, engaged in typical activities, and dated back to the exhibition of human beings in universal expositions held in Calcutta, Delhi and London. Since Independence, there have been determined efforts to move away from colonial stereotypes and to decolonise government-funded museums in India. Meanwhile, Adivasi artists are finding their own way out of the curatorial confines of the museum. This paper describes how Indian museology still struggles to exorcise the ghosts of the Victorian museum and India's own internal colonialism. |
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ISSN: | 0085-6401 1479-0270 |
DOI: | 10.1080/00856401.2024.2314424 |