The understanding of heritage greatly depends on its broad functions and use. Depending on their roles in specialist knowledge domains and society at large, heritage objects are categorized as either material or immaterial; static or dynamic; historical or contemporary in nature. For example, in societal debates, heritage needs to be fluid, debatable, even contestable, while scientists of the past seek the robustness of historical sources in order to create a valid reconstruction of aspects of the past.
In this workshop, we are not going to make things easier. Approaching the matter from the domain of critical heritage theory, we find that heritage is best understood as an ongoing forging and recasting of relationships. These relations present themselves as connections between present and past, and are – inevitably – fueled by the fabric of contemporary society. From this perspective, we wonder how the historical analysis of past networks and relations is complicated by the 'biography of relations' of heritage objects. With what tolerance and adjustments does the historian need to look at these shifty objects? And what conversation needs to take place between them and the keepers of heritage, who not only guard and protect cultural treasures, but also forge and tune heritage relations, leading the eye and mind of users of all sorts?
In our workshop, we look into the way heritage could be abstracted as relational – not only as proof of past relations, but in every stage of their biography. We discuss what this means for the use of heritage objects as historical sources, and what sort of contextual documentation historians could benefit from in their research.
Marieke van der Duin trained in museology and worked as lecturer of heritage theory at the Reinwardt Academy for Heritage Studies of the Amsterdam University of the Arts. She has specialized in the subjects of the valuation and materiality of heritage, and the meaning impact of heritage spaces. Over the years, Marieke has contributed to international conferences with papers on the presentation of natural history collections and (co-)authored short publications on collecting and the process of musealization.
Manuela Friedrich moved from Dresden to Amsterdam, where she studied Social and Economic History, German Studies and Heritage Studies. She has worked as lecturer of heritage theory at the Reinward Academy for Heritage Studies (Amsterdam University of the Arts). Manuela has contributed to historical exhibitions on the subject of Germany in and after the Second World War, and has been involved with her own historical research company, History Impresent (2011), which organized exhibitions about the aftermath of the War on the Dutch-German border.
Wednesday, 24 Janaury 2024
14.00 - 15.00
Hybrid event
C²DH Open Space (4th floor, Maison des Sciences humaines) and online
