***To access the readings, click on the Readings page and enter your normal username and then the password is: heritageprivate Write it down somewhere--I will take it off of this page soon! -MLB ***

“The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” L.P. Hartley

“History is after all only a pack of tricks we play on the dead.” Voltaire

Cultural heritage can be defined as physical signs of the human past that exist in the present. As conceived today, however, cultural heritage can be both physical and non-physical (or tangible and intangible in the current lingo); it can encompass both the very old and the still in use, the man-made and the natural, the permanent and the ephemeral, the invisible, even the edible. Cultural heritage is also a profession and an academic field built upon modern ideas about how and why objects, buildings, landscapes, and traditions should be preserved, protected, and presented to people living today and in the future.

This course has two main objectives. The first is to introduce students to the concept of cultural heritage and how it “works” in the world today. The second objective is to critically examine the theories, methods, and questions that shape the effort to protect and interpret cultural heritage today and how these impact modern society, our concepts of history, and our role in shaping its future.

Throughout the course we will explore issues such as current threats to cultural heritage, the roles of public opinion and tourism in the protection and interpretation of cultural heritage, impacts of development, questions of authenticity and identity, international law, ethics, and emerging and non-traditional areas of the field. We will learn about practical considerations, such as public policy, international organizations, legal frameworks, as well as how factors such as colonialism, nationalism, and war have impacted cultural heritage over the centuries. We will look at modern threats to cultural heritage—such as armed conflict, environmental degradation, uncontrolled development, and illicit trade—and will engage in current debates about ownership, responsibility, authenticity, and definitions of heritage. Students will have the opportunity to work on real-world case studies throughout the course.

Class meetings: Tues/Thurs 2:30-3:50pm, Rhode Island Hall Room 108

Instructor: Michelle Berenfeld

Office Hours: Fridays 1-3 and/or by appointment

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