Françoise Vergès Publishes 'A Programme of Absolute Disorder: Decolonizing the Museum'
In 2024, Pluto Books published 'A Programme of Absolute Disorder: Decolonizing the Museum' by political scientist Françoise Vergès. During a conversation with Sarah Jilani, she asserts that instead of mere diversity, Western museums require a complete upheaval. Vergès critiques the museums' roots in extermination and wealth extraction, coining the term 'botany of death.' She points out the impact of private funding, which leads to pressures on shows and the misuse of antisemitism against pro-Palestinian artists. Vergès mentions the International Council of Museums' stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict and notes that as of February 24, 2024, 207 out of 320 cultural sites in Gaza had sustained damage. A former chair of France's National Committee for the Memory and History of Slavery, she promotes community-centric spaces that prioritize care.
Key facts
- Françoise Vergès published 'A Programme of Absolute Disorder: Decolonizing the Museum' in 2024.
- Vergès argues Western museums are built on extermination, extraction, and privatization and cannot be decolonized through reform.
- She chaired France's National Committee for the Memory and History of Slavery from 2008 to 2012.
- Vergès curated the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery in Nantes, one of the largest slave trade memorials globally.
- The book is published by Pluto Books.
- Vergès critiques private funding's influence on museums, citing examples related to pro-Palestinian artists and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- She references the damage to 207 cultural sites in Gaza as of February 24, 2024.
- Vergès advocates for 'disordering' museums through small, community-focused spaces instead of national institutions.
Entities
Artists
- Françoise Vergès
- Sarah Jilani
- Maryse Condé
- Frantz Fanon
- Alioune Diop
- Ghislain Cloquet
- Chris Marker
- Alain Resnais
- Achille Mbembe
- Keir Starmer
Institutions
- Pluto Books
- National Committee for the Memory and History of Slavery
- Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery
- American Museum of Natural History
- International Council of Museums (iCoM)
- Palestinian culture ministry
- City, University of London
- Communist Party of Réunion
- Union of Women of Réunion
- Maison des Civilisations et de l'Unité Réunionnaise
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Réunion
- Indian Ocean
- Algeria
- Nantes
- New York
- United States
- Ukraine
- Gaza
- Israel
- United Kingdom
- UK
- Cameroon