The new age of relics
By Mark Vernon on Saturday, January 23 2010, 07:21 - General - Permalink

Been hugely enjoying the A History of the World in 100 Objects series - the quite brilliant Neil MacGregor leading us through the British Museum's collection. It's like a conducted meditation each day, though the theme music is a little earnest.
But I think it's not insignificant that the programmes almost have the feel of a religious experience. We live in a world that strips the meaning from objects, and sells them as consumable units. That a museum should be the place to re-sacralise things, by exploring the weighty significance of its contents, is a sign of the times.
(Image: Swimming Reindeer, Ice Age art, 13,000 years old)









