Repatriation: A trending taboo in journalistic media

Abstract

One of the most stigmatized subjects in museology is the repatriation of artifacts, a topic historically silenced and ignored. Despite being a taboo, it has recently become a topic that has been in evidence not only in the museological field but also in the public sphere due to an increased media coverage. The present article, based on the research I’ve conducted, addresses the controversy of a trending taboo by tackling the reasons that create and perpetuate the stigma surrounding repatriation, understanding how the taboo is being maintained, and examining its media presence to understand the relations between the media, museums, and repatriation processes.