Cultural heritage defines identity and gives a sense of belonging. It also preserves historical narratives, allowing one to learn from the past and avoid repeating mistakes. It also encourages tourism, leading to economic growth and bringing jobs.
Intangible cultural heritage includes practices, representations, expressions, and knowledge – as well as the instruments, objects and cultural spaces associated with them – that communities, groups or individuals recognize as their own.
Cultural property
Cultural property is a broad category that includes anything from paintings and artifacts to historic buildings and neighborhoods. It is generally protected by law at the local, national, and international levels. This protection is vital for a number of reasons. It provides a sense of identity and belonging, connects people to their ancestors, and preserves historical narratives for future generations. It also fosters tourism and economic growth.
The illicit trade in cultural property is a serious threat to heritage. It involves the illegal import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property. It is also an important source of funding for criminal activities and terrorist organizations. To combat this, governments and international organizations are working together to develop regulations, laws, and professional codes of ethics.
In the case of war, cultural property is protected by general provisions of international humanitarian law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. This specific protection is embodied by the blue shield symbol, which identifies cultural property that is under the protective provisions of the convention.
Cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the process of taking elements of another culture without permission. This includes using their music, language, clothing, and traditions. It can be done intentionally or unintentionally. It can be harmful to people of that culture and create a false sense of entitlement for the dominant group. Cultural appropriation can also lead to the dehumanization of marginalized groups and cause a lack of respect.
Some examples of cultural appropriation include white musicians adopting African American musical styles and profiting from them. Others are less obvious, such as the use of sacred traditions such as a Southwestern dreamcatcher or Native headdress. The term has become a popular topic in the media and in classrooms. Teachers must be aware of this phenomenon and teach students to approach other cultures with care.
This will prevent them from assuming the dominant culture’s perspective and understanding their own history. It will also help them learn about different cultures and avoid stereotyping.
Neglect
Cultural heritage is a valuable asset that reflects shared humanity and serves as an identity marker. Its preservation is a responsibility of individuals, communities, and governments. However, this process is often hampered by lack of resources and expertise. In addition, the illicit trade of cultural property can contribute to its destruction and loss.
The concept of cultural heritage is also contested in a number of ways. Many ethical issues surround its ownership and use, including the role of museums in representing non-Western cultures. These debates range from relegating non-Western artwork to anthropological museums, which challenges their art-status, to decontextual display that denies the work its cultural context (Eaton and Gaskell 2012).
Intangible cultural heritage includes traditions, oral history, performing arts, social practices, traditional craftsmanship, representations and rituals. It encompasses a dizzying array of things, from the music and dance of tango and flamenco to Viennese coffee house culture, falconry, Azerbaijani carpet weaving traditions, Chinese shadow puppetry, Kabuki theatre, Vedic chanting, and the polyphonic singing of the Aka of Central Africa.
Preservation and conservation
The preservation and conservation of cultural heritage are a vital part of humanity’s common heritage. It preserves the past, provides a sense of belonging and fosters knowledge transmission from one generation to another. It is also a source of inspiration and creativity, and it offers a window into our shared history. However, preserving cultural heritage is not an easy task, as it faces several challenges.
These include deterioration due to commodification, congestion from overtourism and irreversible loss of unearthed archaeological remains during urbanization or construction works. The preservation and conservation of heritage requires a multifaceted approach to achieve sustainability, which includes legal protection, funding and regulation.
The development of conservation as a distinct field of study began in Germany, when Friedrich Rathgen was the first chemist employed by a museum and developed a scientific approach to caring for his collections. This approach was further developed in Britain, where academic chemists such as Arthur Pillans Laurie and Harold Plenderleith conducted pioneering work into paint materials, ceramics and stone conservation.