Cultural Heritages as Reflexive Traditions (Electronic book text)

In a world increasingly perceived as culturally fragmented, the recovery of a sense of the past constitutes an industry in itself. Cultural Heritages as Reflexive Traditions explores anthropological definitions of and contributions to the study of heritage and tradition at an international scale. Drawing on anthropological fieldwork, contributors present case studies illustrating the invention or re-conceptualisation of heritages and traditions in selected locations in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. They review the importance of stories as markers of identity and evaluate the generation of narratives within and about stories. Authors consider competing quests for heritages in post-colonial societies and assess the role of the heritage industry in the reclamation of lost histories. Since the heritage industry has developed as a resource with significant economic potential, several contributors query the impact of the commodification of heritage on the integrity of custodians and their cultural traditions.