996005 Theory Class: Introduction to Critical Heritage Studies (S) (SoSe 2024)

contact person for your queries and questions:
Prof. Kornelia Kończal kornelia.konczal@uni-bielefeld.de

In the 19th century, cultural heritage was defined in the Western world as “objects of cultural value.” In the 1960s and 1970s, the interdisciplinary field of heritage studies was born. In the following decades, scholars working in this field took up approaches from gender, memory and post-colonial studies among others to critically re-examine the hitherto understanding of both tangible and intangible heritage. As a result, heritage has been (re)conceptualized as a process-oriented, discursive and participatory cultural phenomenon and therefore the object of continuous negotiations. This course aims to trace the genealogies, developments and current tendencies shaping Critical Heritage Studies in Europe and beyond.

Learning Outcomes
- identifying the main approaches to the critical study of cultural heritage and the main scholarly debates in the field,
- gaining confidence in critical reading,
- developing oral skills in presenting information,
- creating compelling, original arguments and questions integrating theoretical perspectives and research findings.