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At the end of this learning unit, the participants will be able to:
This Learning Unit explores how cultural and natural heritage contributes to the formation of individual and collective identities, fostering a sense of belonging and engagement within communities. Participants will learn how to leverage heritage to build ‘bridges’ between diverse cultural groups, using it as a tool for social cohesion. The unit emphasizes the importance of civic participation and the role of heritage in creating sustainable, inclusive communities.
This unit employs a culturally responsive pedagogy, encouraging participants to engage with heritage through a combination of theoretical knowledge, best practices, and practical exercises. The methodology emphasizes learning through and with cultural and natural heritage, using these as mediums to build connections between diverse community members. This approach seeks to make heritage education accessible, moving beyond elitist perceptions and viewing it as an inclusive tool for community empowerment.
The unit integrates intergenerational learning, where younger and older generations share their perspectives on heritage, thus enhancing the transmission of knowledge and traditions. It also promotes a participatory learning environment, where community members actively engage in discussions and activities, fostering a sense of ownership over their cultural and natural heritage.
Best practices will be used as case studies to illustrate how other communities have successfully used heritage to enhance social cohesion. Interactive activities will engage learners in problem-solving tasks related to heritage conservation and community building, while discussions will encourage reflective thinking on how heritage can be used as a tool for creating more inclusive societies.
This foundational work discusses how “traditions” are often recent constructions, yet they are used to legitimize authority, social cohesion, and group identity. The authors explore how heritage and tradition are often invented to create or maintain a sense of identity.
Anderson’s influential book looks at how nations and national identities are socially constructed through shared symbols, language, and media. This work is crucial to understanding how heritage plays a role in the formation of national identity.
In this essay, Hall explores the complex ways in which identity is shaped by cultural heritage, especially within diasporic communities. He critiques the idea of fixed or essentialist identities and introduces a more fluid concept of cultural identity
In this essay, Hall explores the complex ways in which identity is shaped by cultural heritage, especially within diasporic communities. He critiques the idea of fixed or essentialist identities and introduces a more fluid concept of cultural identity
Smith examines how heritage is not just about preserving the past but is actively used in the present to create and contest identities. The book also explores the power dynamics involved in heritage-making processes.
This book looks at the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), including the complex relationship between ICH and identity formation, particularly in the context of UNESCO’s global initiatives.
This book looks at the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), including the complex relationship between ICH and identity formation, particularly in the context of UNESCO’s global initiatives.
This platform provides resources about global heritage sites and their cultural significance. The site contains reports and research on how world heritage is linked to national and global identities.
The British Museum hosts a variety of online resources (by clicking on the tab LEARN) that explore the intersection of heritage and identity through their collection of artifacts from around the world.
This group focuses on the relationship between material culture, archaeological practices, and the construction of identities. They also publish resources that examine how heritage is used in shaping ethnic, national, and cultural identities.
This documentary explores the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage and its impact on the identity of communities, particularly in conflict zones.
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