240529 SE MM3 Anthropology of Heritage (2024S)

This course explores “Heritage” in its diverse forms: tangible and intangible cultural heritage, natural heritage, and museum collections. The course aims to develop critical thinking in the study of heritage from an anthropological perspective. Attention will be paid to the study of the political dimension of heritage and its connection to practices of identity construction. Students will be encouraged to reflect on how archaeology, history, and environmental discourses may intertwine in the processes of “heritagization.” During the lectures, the UNESCO role will be discussed in connection to EU policies and specific case studies.
During the course, students will be encouraged to answer to the questions: “What is heritage? Who are the social actors involved in the interpretation and negotiation of the object of the past? Who is in charge of cultural or natural heritage? How archaeologists are responsible for creating the past? More questions will arise during the lectures.
To implement the learning process and the development of critical analysis, each student will focus on a specific case study. The compulsory readings will provide fundamental knowledge about the anthropology of heritage that will enable the students to reflect on their case studies. Students will be asked to present their case studies in class and to participate in the discussion of them.