In a new collaboration with the Louvre and the École du Louvre, the Columbia Undergraduate Programs in Paris launched a series of Masterclasses focused on interrogating the notion of universalism within a museum context. The Masterclass was organized around a combination of lectures and seminars open to undergraduates and to students in Columbia’s M.A. in History and Literature at Reid Hall.
This collaboration was designed to accompany the Chaire du Louvre, an annual lecture series that invites a renowned scholar to present an original perspective on the museum’s collections and its role in a globalized world. Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Columbia Professor of French and Philosophy and Director of the Institute of African Studies, was the holder of this year’s Chaire.
Through the Masterclasses, Diagne invited students to reconsider how museums can serve as spaces for dialogue across diverse cultural contexts through the concept of “lateral universalism.” This theory calls for a decentralized and inclusive approach to understanding cultures and their histories.
Ultimately, the Louvre Masterclass succeeded in its goal of fostering intellectual exchange and interdisciplinary dialogue. By engaging with diverse perspectives and challenging traditional narratives, the program encouraged participants to rethink their understanding of art, philosophy, and museums’ roles in a global context.
Dunia Sarkis, a Barnard student enrolled in the Columbia Undergraduate Program in Paris, specializing in Art History with a concentration in Environmental Studies, highlighted how objects in museums often lose their original context and significance: “For example, Rodin’s sculptures were meant to engage with nature, changing over time in response to their surroundings. When they’re placed in a museum, that natural interaction is stripped away. They’re no longer in their original context, so we have to engage with them almost like translators engage with texts.” This idea of surroundings shaping an object’s meaning was very present throughout the Masterclass.
For Chloé-Alizée Clément, a PhD student at the École du Louvre and a doctoral candidate at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, the Masterclass resonated with her research into French-Japanese cultural diplomacy. “Museums have a role to play in cultural relations.The movement of exchange still exists today in what we call New Japanism,” she explained, describing post-war collaborations between French and Japanese institutions. She also enjoyed being able to engage with students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
Briana Anthony, a master’s student studying Black Americans traveling to France in the late 19th century, said: “Professor Diagne’s discussion of language was amazing because I’m learning French. He used translation as an example, explaining how words in one language don’t always mean the same thing in another.” Diagne highlighted the role of museums in “translating” cultural objects for a global audience, drawing on the work of philosopher Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o who theorized that the language of languages is translation. Briana reflected, “To understand meaning, you have to understand the language, its history, and culture. As a study-abroad student, I found that really beautiful and important.”
Megan Ruppel, a master’s student working on translation studies and Jacques Derrida, highlighted a memorable Q&A moment when Diagne addressed the importance of terminology, and his preference for the term universalism over pluralism: "Professor Diagne explained that universalization doesn’t mean ignoring differences. The point of the universal is to appreciate differences and pluralities.”
A highlight of this collaboration was the public event titled “Reimagining the Museum”, held at Reid Hall on November 27, 2024. Diagne was joined by Laurence des Cars, President-Director of the Louvre, in a dialogue moderated by cultural strategist and Columbia Alumnus, András Szántó. The conversation provided an opportunity to reflect on the future of museums and the shifting role they play in a globalized world. Both Diagne and Des Cars emphasized the importance of museums in fostering dialogue, understanding, and cultural exchange. As Diagne put it, the future of museums lies in embracing the diversity of the world’s cultures and creating spaces where these cultures can coexist and communicate.
The event also celebrated the 60th anniversary of Helen Roger Reid’s gift of Reid Hall to Columbia University in 1964 and marked the inauguration of the Judith Ginsberg Annual Program, a new series of free, public events focused on arts and culture at Reid Hall. The program was established by Alicia Ginsberg, Clare Megathlin, Raphael Ginsberg, and Emily Coward in honor of their aunt, Judith Ginsberg, a generous benefactor of Reid Hall.