When referring to cultural heritage, the term often brings to mind buildings and historical structures, artifacts, and archaeological sites. But, it can also include historic cities and natural landscapes, and intangible cultural heritage like traditions, folklore, oral history, social practices and arts.
Preserving cultural heritage is beneficial for many reasons, such as linking communities to their past and strengthening a sense of identity and continuity. It contributes to peacebuilding, economic development, and environmental sustainability.
What is cultural heritage?
Cultural heritage is a living expression of a community’s way of life. It can be tangible or intangible, and can include beliefs, traditions, practices, artistic interpretation, and significant places. It helps to develop a shared bond and sense of belonging, and it inspires our creativity and responsibility to society at large.
Cultural boundaries are not well defined, and a single culture can influence another even when they are far apart in space or time. This is illustrated by the use of Japanese prints in Paul Gauguin’s paintings or the neoclassical architecture used in Liberian homes influenced by American plantations.
San Francisco’s cultural heritage resources are both tangible and intangible, and include historic districts, architecturally significant buildings, artworks, and archaeological sites. In addition to their aesthetic and historic value, these resources have the potential to foster a greater awareness of the City’s history and identity, build community pride and responsibility, and support economic development. This is why cultural heritage is protected.
What is intangible cultural heritage?
Intangible cultural heritage is ‘the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills – as well as the instruments, objects and artefacts associated with them – that communities, groups or individuals recognize as integral to their culture’ (UNESCO 2003). This type of heritage includes things like songs, dances, stories, cuisine, and more. It is important to remember that each country has its own unique traditions and customs. Taking time to learn about these can help us understand more about the people who live there.
Intangible cultural heritage is a vital part of every society. It helps define a culture and pass on traditions from one generation to the next. It can also bring people together and strengthen community identities. UNESCO is working hard to protect intangible cultural heritage around the world. This is done by creating documentation and databases of the various cultures that exist. For example, the Traditional Ways of Making Artisan Minas Cheese in Brazil has been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
What is tangible cultural heritage?
Tangible cultural heritage consists of physical artifacts, buildings and sites invested with cultural significance. These are the tangible representations of intangible cultural heritage and often serve as a focal point for community identity and pride. The Taj Mahal, for example, stands as a symbol of Mughal architecture and represents a story of cultural fusion.
Cultural heritage is a primary source of data for anthropologists, who use it to understand cultural continuity and change over time. They also use it to explore the social, economic and environmental contexts of past and present societies.
The emergence of the concept of cultural heritage is the result of a process of historical development in which different values were attached to monuments, buildings and works of art. The notion that cultural heritage belongs to humanity as a whole led to the creation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This includes traditions, oral histories, performances, rituals and skills, as well as knowledge about natural resources like flora, fauna and geological features.
What is the relationship between tangible and intangible cultural heritage?
Intangible cultural heritage is just as important for a culture’s identity and continuity as the physical manifestations of it, such as buildings, monuments and artifacts. But if it is not actively protected, it can disappear forever.
The protection of cultural heritage requires legal safeguards and cooperation across borders. These include laws that restrict activities that could harm heritage sites and the promotion of responsible tourism. In addition, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) maintains a list of sites that are considered to be significant for their cultural value.
Intangible cultural heritage also includes a wide variety of social practices, rituals, representations and knowledge that is passed on from generation to generation within a culture. It can be difficult to assess and evaluate its significance, but it is crucial for a culture’s identity and continuity. It is also a source of pride and can inspire creativity in future generations. It is a rich legacy that is worth protecting for all humankind.