Preservation, erasure and representation : rethinking 'intangible heritage' in a comparative museum ethnography
In a critical dialogue with museum and cultural heritage studies, this thesis examines the concept of âintangible cultural heritageâ (ICH) and its implications for heritage theory, policy and practice. ICH gained international recognition in the 21st century primarily through the activities of UNESCO. Controversies and gaps inherent in the institutional discourse on ICH, however, have led critics to question not only its assumptions but in some cases its very raison dâĂȘtre. Taking this forward, the purpose of this thesis is to revisit the ICH discourse and explore alternative negotiations entangled in institutional configurations, intellectual quests for parallel/ subversive heritages and new/ postmuseum paradigms. My point of departure is a critique of the preservationist ethos of UNESCO that has led to the construction of the official ICH narrative. Based on the idea of the âpolitics of erasureâ, I argue for the re-conceptualisation of ICH not via archival and salvage measures, but through the reworking of the modern/ pre-modern and presence/ absence dynamics embedded in notions of impermanence, renewal and transformation. Parallel to that, I trace the implications of the ICH discourse for heritage
Alivizatou, M. E.
Preservation, erasure and representation : rethinking 'intangible heritage' in a comparative museum ethnography. In a critical dialogue with museum and cultural heritage studies, this thesis examines the concept of âintangible cultural heritageâ (ICH) and its implications for heritage theory, policy and practice. ICH gained international recognition in the 21st century primarily through the activities of UNESCO. Controversies and gaps inherent in the institutional discourse on ICH, however, have led critics to question not only its assumptions but in some cases its very raison dâĂȘtre. Taking this forward, the purpose of this thesis is to revisit the ICH discourse and explore alternative negotiations entangled in institutional configurations, intellectual quests for parallel/ subversive heritages and new/ postmuseum paradigms. My point of departure is a critique of the preservationist ethos of UNESCO that has led to the construction of the official ICH narrative. Based on the idea of the âpolitics of erasureâ, I argue for the re-conceptualisation of ICH not via archival and salvage measures, but through the reworking of the modern/ pre-modern and presence/ absence dynamics embedded in notions of impermanence, renewal and transformation. Parallel to that, I trace the implications of the ICH discourse for heritage
preservation representation rethinking intangible heritage comparative museum ethnography critical dialogue museum cultural_heritage study_examines concept intangible cultural_heritage implication heritage theory policy_practice gain international recognition primarily activity unesco gap inherent institutional discourse however lead critic question_assumption case raison taking forward purpose revisit discourse explore_alternative negotiation entangle institutional configuration intellectual quest parallel subversive heritage new paradigm point_departure critique ethos unesco lead construction official narrative based idea politics argue conceptualisation via archival salvage measure rework modern pre_modern presence_absence dynamic embed notion renewal transformation parallel trace implication discourse heritage