Magdalena Buchczyk, "Weaving Europe, Crafting the Museum: Textiles, History and Ethnography at the Museum of European Cultures, Berlin" (Bloomsbury, 2023)

In this episode of the New Books Network, Dr. Miranda Melcher interviews Dr. Magdalena Buchczyk about her book, "Weaving Europe, Crafting the Museum, Textiles, History and Ethnography at the Museum of European Cultures in Berlin." They discuss the museum's history, its collection of folklore textiles, and how the museum's focus shifted over time, especially after the reunification of East and West Berlin. The conversation explores the complexities of European identity, the role of museums in shaping cultural narratives, and the challenges of representing diverse perspectives within a museum context, including the impact of colonialism and the rise of populism. Buchczyk shares insights into specific artifacts, such as East Prussian carpets and Transylvanian waistcoats, to illustrate how these objects embody themes of heritage, nationalism, displacement, and mobility. She also touches on the museum's current decolonial efforts and her own research on Sardinian basket weaving, linking heritage with environmental and social justice.