Cultural heritage refers to a set of things that are part of a culture that consists of both intangible and tangible traces of the past. These traces can be seen, like monuments or towns, but also are intangible, such as language and traditions.
Harnessing cultural heritage for sustainable development is increasingly recognised, but there is still room for improvement in the articulation of its potential and pitfalls. This article explores the normative economic implications of such an approach.
Artifacts
A cultural artifact is a tangible item that offers insight into past cultures. It can be a tool that illuminates technology or a piece of faience that reveals beliefs. These items are important to heritage preservation because they allow historians to construct a story about human history and culture.
The scholarly and library communities need to come to terms with the fact that every aspect of an artifact yields information that will be useful to some scholar or other. For example, a first edition of Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” will be used differently by an anthropologist studying Victorian England and the economics of book publishing, a literary scholar who analyzes different versions of the work, and a historian of books and manuscripts that are segregated from general collections for special handling and preservation protocols.
Ultimately, the goal of preservation is to ensure that historical artifacts remain accessible and relevant. In the case of cultural heritage, that involves connecting people to their past and fostering tolerance in a globalized world.
Traditions
Traditions are the beliefs, values, practices and customs passed down within a culture. They help to shape identities and influence behavior, providing a sense of continuity in a changing world. Blue Shield recognizes the importance of cultural heritage to communities and works to prevent the loss of it.
Oral traditions can be particularly fragile, as they are transmitted through the spoken word, and may be distorted or even lost over time. This has occurred as a result of the introduction of modern mass media that can alter or even overshadow traditional forms of communication and expression. Epic poems that once took several days to recite, for example, can now be reduced to a few sentences or recorded on digital devices.
While it is important to preserve the traditions of a culture, it is also OK to let go of cycles of abuse or false beliefs that don’t align with your truth. You can be the brave one in your family to break old patterns and move forward with a healthy sense of identity and belonging.
Identity
Cultural heritage is an important component of a person’s identity, shaping their views and values, connecting them to the past and their ancestors. It can also increase a feeling of belonging to groups and communities, preserve history, and help individuals feel good about themselves.
The concept of cultural heritage is a fluid one, and people’s understanding of what makes up their culture may vary. What a person values as cultural heritage is determined by their culture and the culture of their ancestors, as well as their beliefs and experiences. It may also be influenced by the cultures of other places and times—think of Pablo Picasso’s use of Japanese prints in his paintings or Liberian homes built in the neoclassical style.
There are two distinct categories of heritage: tangible and intangible. Tangible heritage includes physical objects, such as buildings and monuments, while intangible heritage consists of practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills. The latter can include anything from the dances of tango and flamenco to Viennese coffee house culture to ancient Greek philosophy.
Memory
The memory is a central part of cultural heritage, and its preservation is crucial to sustaining the culture. Communities often use stories, specific ceremonies, and other group activities to transfer the memories of their cultural heritage to the next generation, which prevents dilution. It also allows young people to feel a sense of belonging and appreciation for their heritage.
The increasing globalization and connectivity of the world have contributed to an increased interest in cultural heritage. This has resulted in increased tourism, which has helped preserve and protect heritage sites, artifacts, and traditions. The increased popularity of cultural heritage has also caused a need for more sustainable and scalable approaches to conservation, archiving, and access.
The recent increase in research into the relationship between cultural memory and heritage has revealed that there is a continuous process of selection, forgetting, and preservation within cultural heritage. In addition, this research has highlighted the importance of preserving and restoring cultural heritage for future generations.