Critical Social Inquiry 0219 - Introduction to World Heritage

This course is an introduction to the politics of heritage. Heritage sites, monuments and museums are frequently sites of controversy, as various groups with different and often conflicting experiences contest interpretations of the past. We will focus on the major themes, ideas and debates shaping the theoretical and methodological frameworks for studying cultural heritage. We will learn the ways in which colonialism, nationalism, apartheid, conflict and independence and impact cultural heritage. We will also critically examine contemporary possibilities, problems and challenges presented by cultural tourism, development, international law, war and illicit trafficking. Through a series of case studies we will examine the historical, political, social and cultural contexts in which nations, communities and individuals assert their rights through heritage.

Culture, Humanities, and Languages Power, Community and Social Justice Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.