The heritagization of religion and the sacralization of heritage in contemporary Europe Oscar Salemink University of Copenhagen Participants Amsterdam Irene Stengs Kraków Anna Niedzwiedz Lisbon ID: 770594
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The heritagization of religion and the sacralization of heritage in contemporary Europe Oscar Salemink University of Copenhagen
ParticipantsAmsterdam: Irene StengsKraków: Anna NiedzwiedzLisbon: Clara SaraivaUEA Norwich: Ferdinand de JongCopenhagen : Oscar Salemink Dias 2Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
Research focusWe investigate the heritagization of religious sites, objects and practices in relation to religious and secular experiences. Research aimWe aim at a theoretical and empirical understanding of the consequences of the heritagization of religious sites, objects and practices which were not considered heritage before. Dias 3Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
AssumptionsThe present-day idea of cultural heritage is relatively newIt had historical and cultural precedents , but the UNESCO-inspired idea of heritage conservation emerged after WW2……. and globalized after the World Heritage ConventionsThis implies that things (sites, objects, practices) become heritagized in connection with other processes ( cultural, political, economic) Dias 4Department of Anthropology 13 September 2016
When applied to things religious… Heritagization is predicated on immanent, secular principles and criteria…… in the sense that religious sites, objects and practices are not considered heritage for their transcendent, religious meaning for particular groups, but for their historical, aesthetic, cultural significance Yet one could say that heritagization involves sacralization, as the referent object of heritage is put on a pedestal for viewing, contemplation, reverence, or even aweHeritage is not profane or everyday in the Durkheimian sense of the wordWe could speak of an paradoxical (or oxymoronic?) process of secular sacralizationDias 5Department of Anthropology 13 September 2016
Tensions implied in the paradoxWe aim at a theoretical and empirical understanding of the possible tensions and conflicts arising from heritagization…… as heritagization involves a secular gaze that sacralizes non-religious aspects of religious sites, objects and practices.Tensions are implied in the sense that in our liberal societies the sovereign subject with regards to religious sites, objects and practices is supposed to be the religious constituencythe state should take a backseatBut if the same (religious) sites, objects and practices are branded heritage, then principles of protection and management applythe state and its expert agents take a front seat Dias 6 Department of Anthropology 13 September 2016
Topics, sites en partnersDK: Religious heritage sites of Roskilde and Jelling (and possibly Christiansfeld) With National MuseumDias 7 Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
Topics, sites en partnersNL: Various classic and popular versions of ”The Passion” With Catharijneconvent (Utrecht Museum of religious art)Dias 8Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
Topics, sites en partnersPL: Catholic, Jewish and new spiritual heritage and festivals in Kraków Ethnographic Museum KrakówTygodnik Powszechny Foundation Dias 9Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
Topics, sites en partnersPT: Neopagan, Catholic, Muslim and Afro-Brazilian practices at heritage sitesNational Museum of Ethnology (Lisbon)Lisbon Museum ATUPO (Umbanda temple)Dias 10Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
Topics, sites en partnersUK: Religious appropriations of prehistoric sites ( Seahenge), Celtic sites (Sutton Hoo), and Christian sites of pilgrimage (Walsingham, Bury St Edmunds)Hungate Centre of Medieval Art (Norwich)Dias 11Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
Sources of inspirationPresent- day fundamentalist iconoclasm: Destroying heritage objects as religious objects…… because they are religious objects (idols)Dias 12Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
My work in Vietnam… On performative spirit possession Medium incarnates deities of Mother Goddess pantheon through dress and danceStylized, diverse, both men and women, cross-dressing to incarnate spirits of both gendersAesthetic performance to seduce the spirits as well as audienceAesthetic competition between mediumsIn recent past seen as superstitious and wastefulBut now? UNESCO intangible cultural heritage under state control 13 September 2016 Department of Anthropology Dias 13
Public impact?We aim to research these paradoxes and tensions We aim to contribute to public awareness and debate on such sensitive issues by working together with cultural and media institutions…… by taking heritage from its pedestal and thereby prevent that it turns into a tethering post (cf. Michael Herzfeld) for the religious / heritage constituencies Dias 14Department of Anthropology13 September 2016
Dias 15 Department of Anthropology13 September 2016 Thank you for your attention!