Heritage Dynamics: Understanding and adapting to change in diverse heritage contexts

Description

How does heritage emerge, change, stagnate, disappear and/or revive over time? Should heritage be approached as a ‘non-renewable resource’ that needs to be sustained for eternity, or as a ‘renewable resource’ that adapts to change and transformation? Heritage Dynamics deconstructs the dynamic nature of heritage. Heritage as a socio-cultural practice goes through non-linear, continuous lifecycles, where certain factors will be the catalyst for the ending of one lifecycle and the revival for another. Kalliopi Fouseki develops a theoretical and methodological framework of ‘heritage dynamics’, which is used as the analytical thread of six heritage contexts: heritage-led transformation in historic urban places; decision-making on energy efficiency and heritage conservation in ‘everyday heritage’ residential buildings; lifecycles of heritage collections; exhibition dynamics and the impact of participation with emphasis of ‘difficult heritage’; dynamics of dissonance on contested museums and the dynamics of ‘intangible heritage’ with emphasis on flamenco. The book offers a new theoretical and methodological framework that will enable heritage scholars and practitioners to unpack the ways and conditions under which heritage changes. The new theoretical framework will re-orientate current thinking of heritage as a thing, a process or discourse towards a new, more systemic thinking that captures the complexity of heritage. Methodologically, Heritage Dynamics introduces the potential of systemic methods, such as system dynamics, in capturing the dynamic nature of heritage. The new theory and method not only opens up new avenues for theoretical explorations, but also offers a significant tool for heritage managers and policymakers. Cover Half-title Title page Copyright information Table of contents Dedication List of figures List of tables Acknowledgments Introduction 1 Heritage dynamics Introduction ‘Practice theories’ and ‘heritage dynamics’ Heritage dynamics – complexity, system and assemblage theories Complexity theory and critical realism Assemblage theories Assemblage theories and system dynamics Assemblage theories and actor network theories Assemblage theories and ‘critical system dynamics’ ‘Assemblage’ theories in heritage literature Relational theories and relational models in heritage research ‘System dynamics’ thinking in heritage literature Why and for whom is a ‘heritage dynamics approach’ important? 2 Urban heritage dynamics Introduction Methodology Urban dynamics Urban heritage dynamics Urban dynamics in the Royal Arsenal and its surroundings Urban dynamics in the Royal Arsenal Royal Arsenal in decline Post-decline valorisation and conservation Culture and heritage–led revival and regeneration Merging the ‘old’ with the ‘new’ Cultural revival Social division Urban heritage dynamics beyond the Royal Arsenal ‘Modelling’ urban heritage dynamics Conclusion Notes 3 ‘Everyday heritage’ Introduction ‘Official’ heritage discourses on ‘originality’ and ‘authenticity’ ‘Unofficial’ heritage discourses on ‘originality’ and ‘authenticity’ ‘Authenticity’, ‘originality’ and ‘character’ ‘Character’, ‘personification’ and ‘continuity’ The interconnectedness of ‘aesthetics’ Dynamic interactions between interior environment and original features From ‘property’ to ‘home’ and from ‘home’ to ‘asset’ Replacing, restoring or replicating ‘original features’ Conclusion 4 Collection life cycles Introduction Collections and collection management as dynamic, non-linear practices Collections as dynamic assemblages Collections’ ‘lifetime’ Damage and ‘unacceptable’ change Value, material change, context and ‘expected lifetime’ The growth and de-growth of museum collections through disposal The Malta ‘old’ buses – a dynamic collection assemblage Conclusion Notes 5 Museum exhibition dynamics Introduction Methodology – how to deconstruct the dynamics of a museum exhibition ‘Heritage dynamic’ elements in exhibition dynamics Exhibition dynamics – the ‘Atlantic Worlds’ exhibition Contextual framework External environment Museum building Narrative–making Materiality and space Senses, feelings and space Participation dynamics Exhibition dynamics – the ‘London, Sugar and Slavery’ exhibition Contextual framework The surroundings The building Narrative–making Affective exhibition assemblages Participation dynamics The fluidity of permanence The dynamics of the surroundings Conclusion Notes 6 ‘Dissonant heritage’ dynamics The New Acropolis Museum as a contested arena – a historic outline ‘Visual contact’ in the ‘Attic light’ When the ‘modern’ clashes with the ‘classical’ Unpacking the mechanisms of ‘heritage dissonance’ The museum as a national and international emblem The New Acropolis Museum – an act of ‘sacredness’ or ‘sacrilege’? Conclusion 7 When performing arts meet heritage Introduction Flamenco as ‘intangible heritage’ Embodied heritage Embodied senses, embodied identity Embodied authenticity Artefactual embodiment Embodied place and space Embodied skills Embodied time Embodied resources Conclusion Conclusion References Index