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Heritage Principles and Concepts - ARC00012M

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  • Department: Archaeology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. John Schofield
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24

Module summary

Cultural heritage is an internationally recognised concept that includes both the tangible remains of human actions over time and intangible aspects of those human actions. This course will introduce you to how cultural heritage is defined in an inclusive way, why it matters and how to best manage it for this and future generations. Heritage is often contested and this will be discussed, along with ideas about the ambiguous relationships that can exist between heritage professionals and the wider public. Students will be encouraged to develop their critical thinking around all these issues.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2023-24

Module aims

This module aims to:

  • introduce the basic principles, concepts and philosophy of cultural heritage management and conservation and place these within a historical and cultural context
  • identify and understand cultural heritage management processes and practices
  • introduce the diversity of meanings and values attributed to heritage, including archaeological heritage and historic landscape, and the challenges and consequences of this diversity
  • identify key legislation, policy documents and international charters and conventions that frame cultural heritage management and conservation

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the concept of heritage, the principles of cultural heritage management and their cultural and political consequences
  • Critically understand the role of expertise in the mediation of conflicts over the management and meaning of heritage
  • Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship in the discipline, including the role of legislation, public policy, international charters and conventions on the practices of of cultural heritage management and conservation
  • Demonstrate critical engagement with the use of expert values and knowledge in the regulation of cultural values and in the mediation of conflict
  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of the role of both public and private lobby/interest groups in the development of conservation and heritage policy

Module content

We will begin by exploring how people define, use and create heritage before looking at the values it holds for different people and communities. Once we understand these values, we will look at how heritage is managed and protected. Aspects of this part of the module will include discussion of people’s everyday heritage as well as modern and contemporary heritage, alongside more conventional and iconic examples. We will also discuss intangible heritage and the heritage of the future, for example the toxic heritage of nuclear waste storage and plastics, and address heritage controversies such as the dismantling of statues. We will also discuss nature and culture and why it is hard to treat them separately. We will end by considering whether heritage practice can be democratised and the changing role of heritage experts.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay : Management plan		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay : Management plan		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Formative: oral feedback from module leaders

Summative: written feedback within the University's turnaround policy

Indicative reading

Fairclough, G, Harrison, R, Jameson, J Jnr and Schofield, J (eds) (2008) The heritage reader. London: Routledge.

Harrison, R (2013) Heritage: critical approaches. London: Routledge. Available at: https://www-taylorfrancis-com.libproxy.york.ac.uk/books/9780203108857

Harrison, R. et al. (2020) Heritage Futures: Comparative Approaches to Natural and Cultural Heritage Practices. Available at: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10104405/1/Heritage-Futures.pdf


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.