Lecture: Forecasting Cultural Heritage Protection

In collaboration with the Walker Institute of the University of South Carolina, the CMA welcomes Dr. James Bezjian for a lecture inspired by the historic artwork in Reverent Ornament: Art from the Islamic World. Bezjian illustrates how initiatives like the Army Monuments Officers program — whose members are considered modern-day “Monuments Men,” a reference to the special task force that protected art and artifacts during World War II — can forecast for problems related to cultural heritage before they happen and create contingency plans for those circumstances.

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In 2021, the Pentagon revived the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives program in collaboration with the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative, whose mission is “to protect cultural heritage threatened or impacted by disasters and to help U.S. and international communities preserve their identities and history.” Operating as an Army captain, Bezjian works with other academics and military officers to help war-torn communities around the world to preserve their cultural artifacts and histories. 
 
CPT James Bezjian, Ph.D., is assistant professor of strategy & entrepreneurship and director of the Business Innovation Lab at The Citadel. As a lover of culture, Dr. Bezjian believes in a philosophy of lifelong learning and travel. His purpose is “to help celebrate and defend the identity of people so that they have pride from where they come from and confidence of who they are going to be.”
 
The Walker Institute of USC connects South Carolina to the world through academic programs, research, and community events. Through two interdisciplinary majors, six minors focused on international regions, and a host of events on wide-ranging global themes, students and participants learn how to understand and shape our interconnected world.