Thomas Laely - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Thomas Laely

Research paper thumbnail of Attempts to Decolonize Knowledge Production in Museum Practice

Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques

Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques 53-2 | 2022 Praxis décoloniales et rapports de pouvo... more Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques 53-2 | 2022 Praxis décoloniales et rapports de pouvoir dans la fabrique des savoirs en contextes postcoloniaux Dossier

Research paper thumbnail of Attempts to Decolonize Knowledge Production in Museum Practice

Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques, Dec 1, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Auto Didaktika : Drahtmodelle aus Burundi / Wire Models from Burundi

Research paper thumbnail of Everything is milk". Milk culture in Uganda from a Swiss point of view

Research paper thumbnail of Drinking skills : milk, cassava beer, kava, palm wine, tea, rice beer

Benteli Verlag eBooks, 2014

ABSTRACT Drinking is one of the most basic human needs. However, the act of drinking encompasses ... more ABSTRACT Drinking is one of the most basic human needs. However, the act of drinking encompasses much more than just quenching one’s thirst. This publication complements the ‘Drinking Skills’ exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich. It illustrates the important cultural role that drinking has by describing some characteristic beverages from around the world. The authors clearly explain the different ways these drinks are prepared, shared, and consumed, and their inherent social power. Two sommeliers contribute brief descriptions of the beverages which Western palates are not accustomed to – an invitation to the readers to enjoy this book with all their senses.

Research paper thumbnail of Museum cooperation between Africa and Europe: a new field for museum studies

Edition Museum, Jun 27, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Milch in Afrika – Kalebasse und Tetra Pak

Benteli Verlag eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Rethinking museum cooperation between Africa and Europe: do we need a new paradigm?

Edition Museum, Jun 27, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction: Rethinking Museum Cooperation between Africa and Europe Do we need a new paradigm?

transcript Verlag eBooks, Dec 31, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Man muss eben Alles sammeln". Der Zürcher Botaniker und Forschungsreisende Hans Schinz und seine ethnographische Sammlung Südwestafrika

Der ehemalige Direktor des Botanischen Gartens der Universitat Zurich und Professor fur Botanik H... more Der ehemalige Direktor des Botanischen Gartens der Universitat Zurich und Professor fur Botanik Hans Schinz (1858−1941) war ein leidenschaftlicher Sammler. Sein Interesse galt neben botanischen und zoologischen auch ethnographischen Objekten von verschiedenen ethnischen Gruppen. Den Grundstein seiner Karriere legte er mit seiner fast dreijahrigen Forschungsreise (1884–1887) in Sudwestafrika. Seine Sammlung wurde eine der funf grossen Grundungssammlungen des Volkerkundemuseums der Universitat Zurich. Die Publikation zeichnet die Reise von Hans Schinz nach und beleuchtet kritisch, welche Beitrage und Materialien zur Ethnographie Sudwestafrikas Hans Schinz hinterlassen hat – als Person, als Wissenschaftler und als Sammler.

Research paper thumbnail of Milk in Africa – Gourd and Tetra Pak

Benteli Verlag eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Trinkkultur Kultgetränk : Milch, Maniokbier, Kawa, Palmwein, Tee, Reisbier

ABSTRACT Trinken gehört zu den Grundbedürfnissen des Menschen – bedeutet jedoch weit mehr, als nu... more ABSTRACT Trinken gehört zu den Grundbedürfnissen des Menschen – bedeutet jedoch weit mehr, als nur den Durst zu stillen. Der hohe kulturelle Stellenwert des Trinkens wird in dieser Publikation, die zur gleichnamigen Ausstellung am Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich entstanden ist, an Beispielen von Getränken aus der ganzen Welt veranschaulicht. Die Autoren erläutern verständlich und lebensnah, auf welch unterschiedliche Weise diese zubereitet, ausgeteilt und aufgenommen werden und welche gesellschaftlichen Kräfte sie entfalten. Kurze Charakterisierungen der unseren Gaumen ungewohnten Getränke steuern zwei Sommeliers bei – eine Aufforderung an die Leserinnen und Leser, das Buch mit allen Sinnen zu geniessen.

Research paper thumbnail of Working through Colonial Collections: An Ethnography of the Ethnological Museum in Berlin

Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue canadienne des études africaines

Research paper thumbnail of Towards Mutuality in International Museum Cooperation: Reflections on a Swiss-Ugandan Cooperative Museum Project

Stedelijk Studies Journal

Thinking about a “museum of mutuality” affords the question of who the actors are and, accordingl... more Thinking about a “museum of mutuality” affords the question of who the actors are and, accordingly, between whom mutuality is a characteristic of their relationship, ideally or practically. The call for papers for this special issue invited contributors to examine how museums and audiences are intertwined in mutuality. Over the last few decades, expectations directed to this relationship have tended to point towards its “democratization”[1] and inclusiveness, towards opening the institution as a forum for sociocultural exchange and debate, towards plurivocality concerning representation, and towards greater accessibility to and renegotiation of the ownership of its collections.[2] It is anticipated, and according to the current trends in museology rightly so, that museums are transforming from being inward-looking institutions that communicate unilaterally from an authoritarian and custodian position, to becoming outward-looking organizations that insert themselves permeably into so...

Research paper thumbnail of Museum als ethnologische Methode? Zeitgeschuldete Betrachtungen

Research paper thumbnail of Towards a renewed Concept of Museum in Africa – and in Europe*

The debates about what to do with collections from colonial contexts, and how to deal with them, ... more The debates about what to do with collections from colonial contexts, and how to deal with them, have developed pace and unexpected momentum in the last three years. This is especially true for artifacts from the African continent, whether they are in museums or collections in Europe, North America, or elsewhere outside the continent. But the same is true under different circumstances, and we do not want to pass over this, for colonial collections and museums in Africa. Let's take a closer look at both in light of recent debates. The discussions about whether, to whom and when under which circumstances a return, or rather indeed: an unequivocal restitution is appropriate or not, have recently experienced differentiations. This applies already to the preconditions of most restitutions, namely the opening and making accessible of the inventories. While some think that in principle everything should be put online, another opinion maintains that whenever possible, the creators or or...

Research paper thumbnail of Collecting, Revisiting, Reappraising – Restituting? The Schinz Collection of the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich

Research paper thumbnail of Milk in Africa – Gourd and Tetra Pak

Research paper thumbnail of Restitution and beyond in contemporary museum work: Re-imagining a paradigm of knowledge production and partnership

Journal of African Studies, 2020

Today, anthropological museums have to reach out to external stakeholders toreprocess and reappra... more Today, anthropological museums have to reach out to external stakeholders toreprocess and reappraise the history and acquisition of their collections. They aremuch more than mere interpreters of a past heritage, but institutions having a placein contemporary history to debate and shape ever-evolving cultures grounded inboth local and global concerns. The paper explores these questions using theexample of an ongoing trilateral museum partnership in knowledge generationbetween Uganda and Switzerland.

Research paper thumbnail of Auto Didaktika : Drahtmodelle aus Burundi / Wire Models from Burundi

Research paper thumbnail of Attempts to Decolonize Knowledge Production in Museum Practice

Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques

Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques 53-2 | 2022 Praxis décoloniales et rapports de pouvo... more Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques 53-2 | 2022 Praxis décoloniales et rapports de pouvoir dans la fabrique des savoirs en contextes postcoloniaux Dossier

Research paper thumbnail of Attempts to Decolonize Knowledge Production in Museum Practice

Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques, Dec 1, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Auto Didaktika : Drahtmodelle aus Burundi / Wire Models from Burundi

Research paper thumbnail of Everything is milk". Milk culture in Uganda from a Swiss point of view

Research paper thumbnail of Drinking skills : milk, cassava beer, kava, palm wine, tea, rice beer

Benteli Verlag eBooks, 2014

ABSTRACT Drinking is one of the most basic human needs. However, the act of drinking encompasses ... more ABSTRACT Drinking is one of the most basic human needs. However, the act of drinking encompasses much more than just quenching one’s thirst. This publication complements the ‘Drinking Skills’ exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich. It illustrates the important cultural role that drinking has by describing some characteristic beverages from around the world. The authors clearly explain the different ways these drinks are prepared, shared, and consumed, and their inherent social power. Two sommeliers contribute brief descriptions of the beverages which Western palates are not accustomed to – an invitation to the readers to enjoy this book with all their senses.

Research paper thumbnail of Museum cooperation between Africa and Europe: a new field for museum studies

Edition Museum, Jun 27, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Milch in Afrika – Kalebasse und Tetra Pak

Benteli Verlag eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Rethinking museum cooperation between Africa and Europe: do we need a new paradigm?

Edition Museum, Jun 27, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Introduction: Rethinking Museum Cooperation between Africa and Europe Do we need a new paradigm?

transcript Verlag eBooks, Dec 31, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Man muss eben Alles sammeln". Der Zürcher Botaniker und Forschungsreisende Hans Schinz und seine ethnographische Sammlung Südwestafrika

Der ehemalige Direktor des Botanischen Gartens der Universitat Zurich und Professor fur Botanik H... more Der ehemalige Direktor des Botanischen Gartens der Universitat Zurich und Professor fur Botanik Hans Schinz (1858−1941) war ein leidenschaftlicher Sammler. Sein Interesse galt neben botanischen und zoologischen auch ethnographischen Objekten von verschiedenen ethnischen Gruppen. Den Grundstein seiner Karriere legte er mit seiner fast dreijahrigen Forschungsreise (1884–1887) in Sudwestafrika. Seine Sammlung wurde eine der funf grossen Grundungssammlungen des Volkerkundemuseums der Universitat Zurich. Die Publikation zeichnet die Reise von Hans Schinz nach und beleuchtet kritisch, welche Beitrage und Materialien zur Ethnographie Sudwestafrikas Hans Schinz hinterlassen hat – als Person, als Wissenschaftler und als Sammler.

Research paper thumbnail of Milk in Africa – Gourd and Tetra Pak

Benteli Verlag eBooks, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Trinkkultur Kultgetränk : Milch, Maniokbier, Kawa, Palmwein, Tee, Reisbier

ABSTRACT Trinken gehört zu den Grundbedürfnissen des Menschen – bedeutet jedoch weit mehr, als nu... more ABSTRACT Trinken gehört zu den Grundbedürfnissen des Menschen – bedeutet jedoch weit mehr, als nur den Durst zu stillen. Der hohe kulturelle Stellenwert des Trinkens wird in dieser Publikation, die zur gleichnamigen Ausstellung am Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich entstanden ist, an Beispielen von Getränken aus der ganzen Welt veranschaulicht. Die Autoren erläutern verständlich und lebensnah, auf welch unterschiedliche Weise diese zubereitet, ausgeteilt und aufgenommen werden und welche gesellschaftlichen Kräfte sie entfalten. Kurze Charakterisierungen der unseren Gaumen ungewohnten Getränke steuern zwei Sommeliers bei – eine Aufforderung an die Leserinnen und Leser, das Buch mit allen Sinnen zu geniessen.

Research paper thumbnail of Working through Colonial Collections: An Ethnography of the Ethnological Museum in Berlin

Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue canadienne des études africaines

Research paper thumbnail of Towards Mutuality in International Museum Cooperation: Reflections on a Swiss-Ugandan Cooperative Museum Project

Stedelijk Studies Journal

Thinking about a “museum of mutuality” affords the question of who the actors are and, accordingl... more Thinking about a “museum of mutuality” affords the question of who the actors are and, accordingly, between whom mutuality is a characteristic of their relationship, ideally or practically. The call for papers for this special issue invited contributors to examine how museums and audiences are intertwined in mutuality. Over the last few decades, expectations directed to this relationship have tended to point towards its “democratization”[1] and inclusiveness, towards opening the institution as a forum for sociocultural exchange and debate, towards plurivocality concerning representation, and towards greater accessibility to and renegotiation of the ownership of its collections.[2] It is anticipated, and according to the current trends in museology rightly so, that museums are transforming from being inward-looking institutions that communicate unilaterally from an authoritarian and custodian position, to becoming outward-looking organizations that insert themselves permeably into so...

Research paper thumbnail of Museum als ethnologische Methode? Zeitgeschuldete Betrachtungen

Research paper thumbnail of Towards a renewed Concept of Museum in Africa – and in Europe*

The debates about what to do with collections from colonial contexts, and how to deal with them, ... more The debates about what to do with collections from colonial contexts, and how to deal with them, have developed pace and unexpected momentum in the last three years. This is especially true for artifacts from the African continent, whether they are in museums or collections in Europe, North America, or elsewhere outside the continent. But the same is true under different circumstances, and we do not want to pass over this, for colonial collections and museums in Africa. Let's take a closer look at both in light of recent debates. The discussions about whether, to whom and when under which circumstances a return, or rather indeed: an unequivocal restitution is appropriate or not, have recently experienced differentiations. This applies already to the preconditions of most restitutions, namely the opening and making accessible of the inventories. While some think that in principle everything should be put online, another opinion maintains that whenever possible, the creators or or...

Research paper thumbnail of Collecting, Revisiting, Reappraising – Restituting? The Schinz Collection of the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich

Research paper thumbnail of Milk in Africa – Gourd and Tetra Pak

Research paper thumbnail of Restitution and beyond in contemporary museum work: Re-imagining a paradigm of knowledge production and partnership

Journal of African Studies, 2020

Today, anthropological museums have to reach out to external stakeholders toreprocess and reappra... more Today, anthropological museums have to reach out to external stakeholders toreprocess and reappraise the history and acquisition of their collections. They aremuch more than mere interpreters of a past heritage, but institutions having a placein contemporary history to debate and shape ever-evolving cultures grounded inboth local and global concerns. The paper explores these questions using theexample of an ongoing trilateral museum partnership in knowledge generationbetween Uganda and Switzerland.

Research paper thumbnail of Auto Didaktika : Drahtmodelle aus Burundi / Wire Models from Burundi

Research paper thumbnail of Ethnologie und Weltkulturenmuseum (Berlin 2017)

Mit großer Intensität wurde in den letzten Jahren über ethnografische Sammlungen im deutschsprach... more Mit großer Intensität wurde in den letzten Jahren über
ethnografische Sammlungen im deutschsprachigen
Raum diskutiert. Einer der Gründe dafür ist sicherlich
die Errichtung des Humboldt Forums in Berlin, das es
sich zur Aufgabe gemacht hat, nicht weniger als die Weltgesellschaft
auszustellen, den Dialog zwischen den
Kulturen der Welt zu fördern und ein internationales
Zentrum für Kunst, Kultur, Wissenschaft und Bildung zu
werden. Auch an anderen Orten stellt sich immer wieder
die fundamentale Frage:
Wie gestalten wir unseren Blick auf die Kulturen der Welt?
Diese Frage ist heute angesichts neuer Nationalismen
aktueller und politisierter als lange Zeit zuvor. Gründungen
wie das Humboldt Forum sind deshalb als deutliches
Zeichen unserer Zeit, geradezu als Verteidigung von
Aufklärung und Weltoffenheit, von westlichen, liberalen
Werten zu verstehen.
Der Blick auf die Kulturen der Welt erfordert jedoch viel
mehr als Aufgeklärtheit, Weltoffenheit und Liberalität.
Die Autoren plädieren für Grundlegenderes und weisen
der Ethnologie in den Weltkulturenmuseen eine zentrale
Rolle für die „Entschlüsselung der Welt“ zu.