Anthropology 397ER - ST- Heritage Policy & Practice

This course focuses on heritage, in both its tangible and intangible forms. Using three themes, we critically consider why the past matters. In section one we focus on heritage policy, examining how certain places or practices are recognized as ?heritage? under US laws such as the National Register of Historic Places or international guidelines such as UNESCO?s World Heritage List. The second section focuses on sustainability, exploring the increasingly common use of heritage tourism as a form of sustainable economic development. In section three we focus on heritage of difficult or painful pasts, such as slavery or genocide, considering ethical issues associated with commodifying violence for tourism. Students will complete a project in each section to gain experience with heritage policies and practices. A common theme between the three sections is material culture, or how we use the "stuff" of the past to understand and communicate its significance in the present.

While there are no prerequisites, previous courses in Anthropology and/or History will be helpful.