Cultural Heritages as Reflexive Traditions

Drawing on anthropological fieldwork, this book presents case studies illustrating the invention or re-conceptualization of heritages and traditions in selected locations in Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe. The authors review the importance of oral traditions as markers of identity and consider competing narratives of heritage in post-colonial societies. In recent times, the heritage industry has developed significant economic potential and several contributors query the impact of the commodification of heritage on the integrity of custodians and their cultural traditions.Table of Contents:Acknowledgements * Notes on Contributors * Cultural Heritages: Process, Power, Commodification--M.Nic Craith * Reflexive Traditions and Heritage Production--U.Kockel * Tradition As Development Strategy--G.E.Aspraki * This is Our Story: Performing, Recording and Archiving Yolngu Cultural Heritage--F.Magowan * Tradition as Reflexive Project in Norway and Malaysia: Witch, Whore, Madonna and Heroine--A.K.Larsen * Challenging Heritage in the South African Countryside; A.Bohlin * Heritage and the Production of Locality in North Namibia--I.Fairweather * The Changing Role of British Cultural Heritage in South Africa--H.Novotn? * The Transmission of Islamic Heritage in Northern Ireland--G.Marranci * Heritage Narratives on the Slovenian Coast: The Lion and the Attic--I.Weber * Globalizing Heritage: Marketing the Prehistoric Built Environment in Ireland--K.A.Costa * Culture, Heritage and Commodification-- H.Gill-Robinson * Heritage as a Commodity: Are We Devaluing Our Heritage by Making it Available to the Highest Bidder via the Internet?--B.R.Hewitt * Index..