scholarly journals Cultural rights and “Masterpieces” of Local and Translocal Actors

Ethnologies ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 297-324
Author(s):  
Hélène Giguère

This paper deals with European experiences of inscription of traditional cultural practices on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). It will first establish the institutional context of the UNESCO’s listing within the framework of reflections on cultural rights. Then, the author briefly presents four European masterpieces in the Mediterranean area. A comparative analysis follows which specifically focuses on the multiplication of practitioners and on translocality; on the overlapping between institutions and artisans; on the use of intangible cultural heritage as a driver for local development via cultural tourism; and on the multimedia “museification” of the intangible. The comparative study of the listing of these intangible cultural heritage traditions also questions the value of customary law versus freedom of expression and creation. It reveals the tensions between the “purity” and “impurity” of cultural practices and social agents, as well as exclusions related to ethnicity, sex or territory. These tensions create new social divisions and remodel the link people have with cultural practices. An examination of gender sheds light on the marginality of women in public space.

Author(s):  
Gül Aktürk ◽  
Martha Lerski

AbstractClimate change is borderless, and its impacts are not shared equally by all communities. It causes an imbalance between people by creating a more desirable living environment for some societies while erasing settlements and shelters of some others. Due to floods, sea level rise, destructive storms, drought, and slow-onset factors such as salinization of water and soil, people lose their lands, homes, and natural resources. Catastrophic events force people to move voluntarily or involuntarily. The relocation of communities is a debatable climate adaptation measure which requires utmost care with human rights, ethics, and psychological well-being of individuals upon the issues of discrimination, conflict, and security. As the number of climate-displaced populations grows, the generations-deep connection to their rituals, customs, and ancestral ties with the land, cultural practices, and intangible cultural heritage become endangered. However, intangible heritage is often overlooked in the context of climate displacement. This paper presents reflections based on observations regarding the intangible heritage of voluntarily displaced communities. It begins by examining intangible heritage under the threat of climate displacement, with place-based examples. It then reveals intangible heritage as a catalyst to building resilient communities by advocating for the cultural values of indigenous and all people in climate action planning. It concludes the discussion by presenting the implications of climate displacement in existing intangible heritage initiatives. This article seeks to contribute to the emerging policies of preserving intangible heritage in the context of climate displacement.


2018 ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Karina Orozco Salinas

ResumenEsta investigación parte de la necesidad de poner el foco en los espacios públicos identitarios, en los cuales la constante congregación espontánea y masiva de la ciudadanía, ha construido un patrimonio cultural inmaterial en ellos, a la hora de celebrar colectivamente en la ciudad. Desde este enfoque, se aborda el caso de la Plaza Baquedano en Santiago de Chile, mediante una metodología propia que contrarresta fuentes secundarias, principalmente periodísticas, con fuentes empíricas. Por lo que seaplican encuestas y entrevistas, con el fin de comprender el fenómeno desde el contexto urbano, social, celebración y patrimonio del lugar. Asimismo, lograr la perspectiva interna y externa del estudio de caso.Los resultados obtenidos confirman la existencia del patrimonio inmaterial y el carácter de identidad, que se ha generado con el paso del tiempo en este espacio público y, tanto la visión interna como la externa, consideran que debería ser catalogado como patrimonio cultural del país. Sin  embargo, esta mención no ha sido otorgada por alguno de los  instrumentos vinculantes en Chile. Por lo cual es una discusión abierta,ya que en la opinión de expertos consultados la complejidad de otorgar una figura de protección inmovilizaría el dinamismo que ha constituido a este lugar como tal.AbstractThis research departs from the need to focus in the public identitary spaces, in which the constant congregation spontaneous and massive of citizenship, has built an intangible cultural heritage in them, when it comes to celebrating collectively in the city. From this approach, is addressed the case of Plaza Baquedano in Santiago de Chile, through our methodology that combine secondary sources, mainly journalistic, with empirical sources. So that, surveys and interviews are applied in order to understand thephenomenon from the urban, social, celebration and heritage context’s.In addition, to achieve internal and external perspective of the case. The results collated confirm the existence of heritage and the identity character, which has been generated over time in this public space and both vision internal and external, consider that it should be cataloged as country’s cultural heritage. However, this mention has not been granted by some of the binding instruments in Chile. Therefore it is an open discussion, since in the opinion of the experts consulted the complexity of granting a protection figure would immobilize the dynamism that has built this place as such.


This chapter reviews the historic and ongoing research of the state of Maine's intangible cultural heritage and shows how this work addresses the need for conservation, advocacy, education, and stewardship of this heritage. Maine is especially rich in intangible cultural heritage including the knowledge involved in crafting fine Native American basketry, boat building, fiddle music and dance, knowledge of the natural world among fishermen, woodsmen, millworkers, and farmers, folk singing, storytelling and much more. Cultural rights and ownership, the role of community scholars, and the impact of tourism is considered. The chapter concludes by suggesting that culturally-sensitive and engaged research has strengthened our understanding of how the ecosystem is essential to human life and culture.


2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Lees

AbstractThis article considers the measures being taken in Bhutan to support the cultural practices and traditions of weaving as Bhutan rapidly moves to modernize. Woven cloth is one of a number of artisan practices in Bhutan that contribute to a unique body of intangible cultural heritage, and a distinctive and instantly recognizable Bhutanese identity. Cloth and cloth production have come to have significant influence on the cultural, socioeconomic and political, as well as the ceremonial and religious life of the people of Bhutan. However with modernization and an increasingly global outlook, many socioeconomic transformations are taking place, challenging traditional cultural practices to remain relevant and viable to younger generations. Bhutan offers a unique case study as a country engaging only relatively recently with globalization after a long history of cultural isolation. Bhutan also offers up a unique policy response to modernization, its Gross National Happiness (GNH) measure, which attempts to embody a strong social, cultural, and environmental imperative within the development process. This article will analyze the various measures taking place to maintain cultural identity and cultural practices within the context of development policy and practice, and will link this discussion to measures and approaches taking place at an international level by agencies such as UNESCO.


Author(s):  
Lonán Ó Briain

The conclusion summarizes the findings of the book and outlines a new paradigm for research on the cultural practices of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities. It opens with a description of two contrasting approaches to this research. Certain strategies for presenting results in public fora are shown to promote unhelpful stereotypes on these people. The author attempts to bridge the gap between contrasting methodologies and ideologies by promoting constructive dialogue between these groups of scholars within the fields of anthropology, ethnology, and musicology This dialogue is stimulated by identifying and working towards a shared goal: the sustainability of intangible cultural heritage in a rapidly urbanizing society.


2021 ◽  
pp. 69-99
Author(s):  
Virginia Santamarina-Campos ◽  
José Luis Gasent-Blesa ◽  
Pau Alcocer-Torres ◽  
Mª Ángeles Carabal-Montagud

AbstractThe Banda Primitiva de Llíria is presented as an open heritage resource, which has been built on the uses, values and symbols assigned to it by the local town of Llíria and its inhabitants over the musical society’s two centuries of history. This work focuses on analysing how this musical phenomenon contributes to positioning creativity and cultural industries at the centre of local development, reinforcing the identity elements of Llíria and the Valencian Region. It intends to support the safeguarding, respect and awareness of one of the oldest civic bands in Spain, providing greater visibility and creating positive recognition of the fundamental importance of this form of intangible cultural heritage for social cohesion and development, in an environment that is transformed into one of collective action, shared culture and creativity.


2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-546
Author(s):  
Rosanne Trottier

AbstractEfforts to protect, if not revitalize, intangible cultural heritage in its traditional communities, cannot succeed without due attention to issues of ownership—cultural, environmental, intellectual, economic … “intellectual property” categories in a wisdom system such as that of the Baul of Bengal show that Traditional Knowledge, Customary Law and Traditional Cultural Expressions are inseparable “property,” and that “ownership” should be understood on traditional terms. Within such an integrated continuum, knowledge itself is not limited to it modern meaning.Is it possible to bring about a true and equitable dialogue between radically antagonistic intellectual property universes—the modern one driven by profit, and traditional ones rooted in complex systems of multiple values?The death of a wise old one is the loss of a whole library—L. S. Senghor


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-96
Author(s):  
James Baker ◽  
Sofya Shahab ◽  
Mariz Tadros

Abstract We document cultural heritage to preserve cultural heritage, to ensure its survival by pushing back against the entropic forces of forgetting and neglect. These entropic forces are particularly acute for intangible cultural heritage preserved in digital form and produced in fragile and conflict-affected settings. And whilst professionals from across the “memory” professions have responded to these challenges, based on our experience of development work with young people in Egypt and Iraq, they have done so in ways that are ill-suited to the worldviews, cultural practices, educational experience and learning models of those outside centres of archival power. This paper describes the delivery of “digital archiving” workshops, training, support and resources developed by an interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral collective of academics, practitioners, community leaders and community participants. Working at the intersection of development studies, heritage management and digital preservation, this paper argues that cultural heritage practices are enriched by foregrounding particular place-based and contingent activities that productively peel back the provincialism of the canons of enlightenment memory work.


2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 156-167
Author(s):  
Dragana Lucija Ratković Aydemir ◽  
Helena Tolić ◽  
Ivana Jagić Boljat

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