Intangible Heritage

This volume examines the implications and consequences of the idea of ‘intangible heritage’ to current international academic and policy debates about the meaning and nature of cultural heritage and the management processes developed to protect it. It provides an accessible account of the different ways in which intangible cultural heritage has been defined and managed in both national and international contexts, and aims to facilitate international debate about the meaning, nature and value of not only intangible cultural heritage, but heritage more generally.

Intangible Heritage fills a significant gap in the heritage literature available and represents a significant cross section of ideas and practices associated with intangible cultural heritage. The authors brought together for this volume represent some of the key academics and practitioners working in the area, and discuss research and practices from a range of countries, including: Zimbabwe, Morocco, South Africa, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, USA, Brazil and Indonesia, and bring together a range of areas of expertise which include anthropology, law, heritage studies, archaeology, museum studies, folklore, architecture, Indigenous studies and history.

Dr Laurajane Smith is Reader in Heritage Studies at the University of York.

Natsuko Akagawa is lecturer and consultant in heritage management.

1. Introduction Laurajane Smith and Natsuko Akagawa Part 1:Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: Reflections on History and Concepts 2. From the Proclamation of Masterpieces to the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage Noriko Aikawa-Faure 3. UNESCO’s 2003 Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage – the Implications of Community Involvement in Safeguarding Janet Blake 4. The Authentic Illusion: Humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Moroccan Experience Ahmed Skounti 5. Intangible Heritage as a List: From Masterpieces to Representation Valdimar Tr. Hafstein 6. Lessons Learned from the ICTM (NGO) Evaluation of Nominations for the UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, 2001–2005 Anthony Seeger Part 2: The Material Politics and Practices of the Intangible 7.Following the Length and Breadth of the Roots: Some Dimensions of Intangible Heritage Dawson Munjeri 8. Deeply Rooted in the Present: Heritage Tourism and Poverty Reduction in Brazilian Quilombos Mary Kenny 9. The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Protection and Maintenance of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indigenous Peoples Henrietta Marrie 10. Indigenous Curation, Museums, and Intangible Cultural Heritage Christina Kreps 11. Intangible Cultural Heritage: Global Awareness and Local Interest Amanda Kearney Part 3: Reflecting on the Intangible 12. A Critique of Unfeeling Heritage Denis Byrne 13. Heritage Between Economy and Politics: An Assessment from the Perspective of Cultural Anthropology Regina Bendix 14. Intangible Heritage in the United Kingdom: The Dark Side of Enlightenment? Frank Hassard 15.‘The Envy of the World?’: Intangible Heritage in England Laurajane Smith and Emma Waterton