2010’s podcast series “The History of the World in 100 Objects” by the Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, is one of the highlights of the podcast genre. Produced by the BBC, each episode tells of a moment in history through a story woven around an object. At times it’s very moving, especially when a tale hits home and resonates with you. People haven’t really changed in thousands of years. Your problems were their problems.
But that’s old news. New though, is that the British Museum has a podcast of its own, called, err, The British Museum podcast. Doesn’t sound that inspiring and there’s only been one episode so far, but I think it will be interesting. The first episode is called The Suicide Exhibition and tells the story of how the museum responded to the outbreak of World War II.
“It wasn’t only people that were evacuated from London during the Second World War. Antiquities and works of art were moved outside of the capital in their thousands. Relocated to stately houses, abandoned tube stations and purpose-built, climate-controlled bunkers – this is the story of how the British Museum pulled off ‘the biggest, mass evacuation of objects in any museum’s history.”
The narrator does talk a little fast but give it a go. Americans will get used to the accent in no time. Just search for “British Museum” in your podcast app of choice (Libsyn / iTunes).
While we’re talking about the British Museum, you might want to listen to the latest episode of The Allusionist which discusses languages and the Rosetta Stone, one of the museum’s most famous exhibits.