Understanding Global Heritage

Summer 2011. Post-graduate level. 10 ECTS credits. Language: English.

The course is aimed at social science post-graduate students, however, no prior experience of studying Global Heritage is necessary.

Location

Seyðisfjörður / Skálanes , Iceland.

Registration

Enrolment deadline: TBA

Associated Disciplines

Heritage Studies, History, Archaeology, Conservation Management, Social Science, Humanities.

Keywords

Heritage, Global, History, Archaeology, Conservation Management.

Description and Theoretical Objectives

Why do people value things from the past? Why are some aspects of history preserved and others allowed to disappear? Who decides what parts of history should be preserved and why? Why do people from different parts of the world value different parts of the past? What does Heritage mean in today’s multi-cultural global context?

Understanding Global Heritage offers the student an opportunity to learn about the theory and application of both natural and anthropogenic ‘heritage’ within today’s global context. Through developing a critical approach to defining what is heritage the student will learn about its origins in the global west and evaluate its affect on the wider world.  Students will learn to evaluate and critique both image and textual sources and learn how to use these skills in deconstructing ‘heritage value’. Through the use of case studies and visits to Iceland’s heritage sites students will critically evaluate UNESCO’s World Heritage scheme. They will also learn to apply an understanding of the key themes of Critical Heritage Studies, Authorised Heritage Discourses and Alternative Heritages in forming their own opinions of the role of the past in the present.

Highlights

The course will offer students the opportunity to not only experience Iceland’s nature and heritage but also to place this within a global context and compare expressions of the past and their uses from different examples throughout the world.  
Research visits will be included to þingvellir National Park (World Heritage Site) and one or more of the following: Skaftafell, Breiðafjörður, Núpsstaður, Viðmýri Turf Church, Keldur, Gásar, Reykholt, Mývatn – Laxá, Herðubreðarlindic and Askja (all of which have been nominated for World Heritage Listing).

Learning Outcomes

Students will gain knowledge in:

•    The 'processes' by which heritage is created and its application as a 'product' in different societies past and present. 

•    Heritage as a 'material' and 'non-material' construct 

•    The uses of heritage in global society and its impacts socially and politically


Students will gain skills in:


•    Critically evaluating heritage
•    Analysing historical, visual and textual resources
•    Analysing and communicating the differing political and social viewpoints of heritage and its value.

Supervisors

Dr Daniel Rhodes.(Archaeologist, National Trust for Scotland and Associate Lecturer, Open University)

Daniel has been working within the heritage sector for 10 years. He worked as a terrestrial archaeologist in Wales, Ireland and Iceland before going on to specialise in maritime archaeology with the University of Ulster. Daniel’s research focuses upon the material remains of the more recent past, concentrating on the influence of European colonialism throughout the world and the politics of heritage. As such he has conducted research in Tanzania, Kenya and Sudan. Most recently Daniel has co-authored a book with Dr Colin Breen, University of Ulster, examining the role of archaeology and heritage in relation to social and economic development in Africa. Currently Daniel works for the National Trust for Scotland, is an Associate Lecturer for the Open University and council member of the Institute for Archaeology.  

Dr Þorvarður Árnason (Director, Hornafjörður Rural Research Centre, Univ. of Iceland).

Reading

Set Text: Fairclough, G. Harrison, R. Jameson, J.H. and Scofield, J (eds.) 2008. The Heritage Reader Routledge.

Preliminary Schedule (subject to change)

Day 1
Lecture 1 (Daniel Rhodes): Introduction to course content, learning activities and assessment.
Lecture 2 (DR): There is no such thing as Heritage? Theory and Critical Heritage Discourse.
Lecture 3 (DR): The practice and application of Heritage.
Lecture 4 (DR): Memory and beliefs in Heritage.

Day 2  
Lecture 5 (Þorvarður Árnason): Iceland. History and Nature.
Lecture 6 (TA): Overview: Vatnajokull National Park
Lecture 7 (TA): Vatnajokull National Park - management issues
Lecture 8 (TA): Vatnajokull NP as a potential World Heritage candidate Lecture 8 (TA):

Day 3
Guest Lecture 9 (Colin Breen): Contested Heritage
Guest Lecture 10 (CB): Maritime and Coastal Heritage
Guest Lecture 11 (CB): Alternative heritages – the material culture of a ‘different way’
Guest Lecture 12 (CB): Heritage, conflict and genocide in African societies
Directed Discussion/Case Study Exercise:

Day 4
Guest Lecture 13 (Elfa Hlín Pétursdóttir): The role of museums in conserving and interpreting Heritage
Guest Lecture 14 (EP): Legal framework, rules and legislation
Guest Lecture 15 (EP) Tangible and intangible heritage in East Iceland
Guest lecturer 16 (EP): Tour of Skálanes nature and heritage reserve
Directed Discussion/Case Study Exercise:

Day 5
Special Guest Lecture 17 (Gerard Corsane): Titles to be announced
Special Guest Lecture 18 (GC):
Special Guest Lecture 19 (GC):
Special Guest Lecture 120 (GC):
Direct Discussion/Case Study Exercise:
Fieldtrip preparation

Day 6 and 7
Two-day field trip to Vatnajokull National Park, with an overnight stay in north Iceland. The trip will first go to the Snaefell area and then continue to Askja and Herdubreidarlindir on the first day The second day will then be spent in Jokulsargljufur and Myvatn.

Students will be expected to make notes of their experience of the sites visited and record the interpretation offered within and around the national park. This, along with UNESCOS official World Heritage Designation Document, will be used as the focus for critical discussion on Day 8.

Day 8
Fieldtrip de-brief and discussion.
Lecture 9: (DR and TA)
Lecture 10: (DR and TA)

Day 9
Dissertation Preparation and Course Roundup

Structure and Evaluation

See: Framework

Guest Lecturers

Mr Gerard Corsane, Senior Lecturer in Heritage, Museum & Gallery Studies in the International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, School of Arts and Cultures of Newcastle University. Gerard's research interests relate to his experiences in Africa and revolve around issues of identity construction and representation in colonial and postcolonial museum, heritage, public history and cultural tourism contexts. Linked to these, his research focuses on integrated heritage management, the value of intangible cultural heritage resources, stakeholder participatory processes, community benefits and sustainable development. He is particularly interested in the processes of management and interpretation of natural and cultural heritage resources by indigenous peoples.His specific research interests focus on 'ecomuseums' and similar democratic projects located in different countries around the world and how these projects relate to the above research areas. Currently, he is looking at the development of ecomuseums in provinces in the People’s Republic of China. He is also interested in work being done by the ‘Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development’, along with its stakeholders and shareholders, regarding heritage management and heritage tourism in Guyana, South America.

Dr Colin Breen of the University of Ulster who specialises in the historical archaeologies of coastal and island communities across Britain, Ireland and Africa. He has a current research focus on the linkages between heritage and international development as well as examining the role of heritage in conflict societies across Africa. He is currently involved in a number of research and cultural resource management projects in East and North Africa and in NW Europe.

Ms Elfa Hlín Pétursdóttir, Curator of East Iceland Heritage Museum.

Enquiries

For specific information on this course and the Svartárkot program please send email to:  info@svartarkot.is