Podcast Summary

Todo Concostrina (SER Podcast)

Episode: "Acontece que no es poco | Los museos se redefinen: no a la exhibición de restos humanos"
Host: Nieves Concostrina
Date: September 18, 2023

Overview

This episode explores the evolving ethics around the display of human remains in museums. Nieves Concostrina, with her trademark wit and critical outlook, discusses the growing movement to remove human remains from public view, highlighting cultural, diplomatic, and ethical dimensions. Through historical anecdotes and contemporary cases, she traces the legacy of displaying human bodies and the recent efforts to return them to their places of origin or, at least, keep them out of sight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Changing Role of Museums

• Hosts reflect on how museums are reassessing their responsibilities:

  “Los museos se redefinen o se lo repiensan diciendo no a la exhibición de restos humanos.”
  —Nieves (01:02)

• The movement is not just about museums, but tied to issues of dignity, racism, and diplomacy.

2. Global Context: Diplomatic Conflicts and Restitutions

• Many countries have demanded the return of remains taken during colonial times.
• High-profile returns include:
  • “El negro de Bañolas” returned from Spain to Botswana.
  • The “Venus Hotentote” (Sarah Baartman) returned by France to South Africa.
  • Four charrúa warriors returned by France to Uruguay.
  • Julia Pastrana returned by Norway.
  • 18,000 Native American remains returned by California.
  • 16 Maori heads returned by France to New Zealand.
  • 18 Australian Aboriginal skulls returned by Sweden.
  • 17 Tasmanian skeletons returned by the UK.
• “Los nativos no coleccionan blancos, son mucho más civilizados.”
  —Nieves (05:09)
• Emphasis that these collections rarely, if ever, included white European remains, highlighting the colonial and racial biases of earlier museum practices.

3. Different Types of Human Remains in Museums

• Some remains were exhibited for scientific interest or because individuals (or families) gave consent, but many were obtained and displayed without consent, often for morbid curiosity or pseudo-scientific racism.
• Distinction is made between archaeological remains (e.g., mummies) and more recent human remains displayed simply for their exoticism, race, or oddity.

4. Spanish Case Study: The 'Gigante Extremeño'

• Agustín Luengo Capilla stood at 2.32m and suffered from acromegaly.
• His remains were displayed at the Museo Nacional de Antropología until recently, as the museum redefined its mission and removed non-contextualized human remains.
• “El museo tiene 4.426 restos humanos inventariados... y el gigante extremeño era uno de ellos.”
  —Nieves (07:28)
• The life of Luengo is recounted, including his contact with Dr. Velasco, who acquired his body after death—allegedly with his mother’s consent, though Nieves casts doubt:

  “Lo de que fuera deseo de su madre, esto me parece un poquito literatura de médico.”
  —Nieves (11:33)

• Luengo’s preserved skeleton became a main exhibit until museum policies changed, now recognizing he was “solo representa los restos de una persona fallecida” (just the remains of a deceased person).

5. The Complexity of Restitution, Display, and Scientific Value

• Differentiating between remains of archaeological versus anthropological interest is challenging, even for experts.
• Some remains, like a mummified head from the Amazon, are retained for their anthropological context (ritual practice), unlike others which have no scientific or cultural justification.
• Debates continue about what should be kept, displayed, or returned—often, remains removed from public display are simply "hidden" in museum storage, not returned.

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the euphemism for taxidermy of humans:

  “Naturalizadas, se dice más finamente, porque cuando es de personas se dice naturalizadas. Es un bonito eufemismo que utilizan los taxidermistas de humanos.”
  —Nieves (01:36)

• On the arbitrariness of what gets displayed:

  “El caso es el negro de Bañolas estaba disecado... lo llaman naturalizado. Los disecaban en nombre de un falso interés científico detrás. En realidad solo había morbo.”
  —Nieves (01:53)

• On the blurred lines in museum collections:

  “No lo tienen resuelto ni los que entienden de ello. Por eso hay tanta bronca a la reclamación y a la devolución de restos.”
  —Nieves (13:00)

• On museum inventories:

  “El museo tiene 4.426 restos humanos inventariados, que ya se dice pronto...”
  —Nieves (07:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Framing: 00:00–01:02
• Background on the Exhibiting of Human Remains: 01:02–03:14
• Global Context & Diplomatic Cases: 04:02–05:58
• Consent vs. Coercion – The Luengo Story: 06:05–12:42
• Complexities & Debates Over What Gets Displayed: 12:42–14:46

Style & Tone

True to Nieves Concostrina’s well-known storytelling, the episode blends thorough research with sharp humor and social critique. Her conversational style, sprinkled with irony, makes a complex ethical debate accessible and thought-provoking for a wide audience.

Summary Takeaway

Through vivid historical narratives and ethical debate, the episode lays bare the need for museums to continually reassess the purpose and morality of exhibiting human remains, reminding listeners of the often-overlooked human stories and dignity behind the glass cases.