1. Oscar Salemink University of Copenhagen
The heritagization of religion and the sacralization of heritage in contemporary Europe
Oscar Salemink
University of Copenhagen

2. Department of Anthropology
Participants
Amsterdam: Irene Stengs Kraków: Anna Niedzwiedz Lisbon: Clara Saraiva UEA Norwich: Ferdinand de Jong Copenhagen: Oscar Salemink
20 November 2018

3. Department of Anthropology
Research focus
We investigate the heritagization of religious sites, objects and practices in relation to religious and secular experiences.
Research aim
We aim at a theoretical and empirical understanding of the consequences of the heritagization of religious sites, objects and practices which were not considered heritage before.
20 November 2018

4. Department of Anthropology
Assumptions
The present-day idea of cultural heritage is relatively new
It had historical and cultural precedents, but the UNESCO-inspired idea of heritage conservation emerged after WW2…
…. and globalized after the World Heritage Conventions
This implies that things (sites, objects, practices) become heritagized in connection with other processes (cultural, political, economic)
20 November 2018

5. When applied to things religious…
Department of Anthropology
When applied to things religious…
Heritagization is predicated on immanent, secular principles and criteria…
… in the sense that religious sites, objects and practices are not considered heritage for their transcendent, religious meaning for particular groups, but for their historical, aesthetic, cultural significance
Yet one could say that heritagization involves sacralization, as the referent object of heritage is put on a pedestal for viewing, contemplation, reverence, or even awe
Heritage is not profane or everyday in the Durkheimian sense of the word
We could speak of an paradoxical (or oxymoronic?) process of secular sacralization
20 November 2018

6. Tensions implied in the paradox
Department of Anthropology
Tensions implied in the paradox
We aim at a theoretical and empirical understanding of the possible tensions and conflicts arising from heritagization…
… as heritagization involves a secular gaze that sacralizes non-religious aspects of religious sites, objects and practices.
Tensions are implied in the sense that in our liberal societies the sovereign subject with regards to religious sites, objects and practices is supposed to be the religious constituency
the state should take a backseat
But if the same (religious) sites, objects and practices are branded heritage, then principles of protection and management apply
the state and its expert agents take a front seat
20 November 2018

7. Topics, sites en partners
Department of Anthropology
Topics, sites en partners
DK: Religious heritage sites of Roskilde and Jelling (and possibly Christiansfeld)
With National Museum
20 November 2018

8. Topics, sites en partners
Department of Anthropology
Topics, sites en partners
NL: Various classic and popular versions of ”The Passion”
With Catharijneconvent (Utrecht Museum of religious art)
20 November 2018

9. Topics, sites en partners
Department of Anthropology
Topics, sites en partners
PL: Catholic, Jewish and new spiritual heritage and festivals in Kraków
Ethnographic Museum Kraków
Tygodnik Powszechny Foundation
20 November 2018

10. Topics, sites en partners
Department of Anthropology
Topics, sites en partners
PT: Neopagan, Catholic, Muslim and Afro-Brazilian practices at heritage sites
National Museum of Ethnology (Lisbon)
Lisbon Museum
ATUPO (Umbanda temple)
20 November 2018

11. Topics, sites en partners
Department of Anthropology
Topics, sites en partners
UK: Religious appropriations of prehistoric sites (Seahenge), Celtic sites (Sutton Hoo), and Christian sites of pilgrimage (Walsingham, Bury St Edmunds)
Hungate Centre of Medieval Art (Norwich)
20 November 2018

12. Sources of inspiration
Department of Anthropology
Sources of inspiration
Present-day fundamentalist iconoclasm:
Destroying heritage objects as religious objects…
… because they are religious objects (idols)
20 November 2018

13. My work in Vietnam… On performative spirit possession
Department of Anthropology
My work in Vietnam…
On performative spirit possession
Medium incarnates deities of Mother Goddess pantheon through dress and dance
Stylized, diverse, both men and women, cross-dressing to incarnate spirits of both genders
Aesthetic performance to seduce the spirits as well as audience
Aesthetic competition between mediums
In recent past seen as superstitious and wasteful
But now?
UNESCO intangible cultural heritage under state control
20 November 2018

14. Public impact? We aim to research these paradoxes and tensions
Department of Anthropology
Public impact?
We aim to research these paradoxes and tensions
We aim to contribute to public awareness and debate on such sensitive issues by working together with cultural and media institutions…
… by taking heritage from its pedestal and thereby prevent that it turns into a tethering post (cf. Michael Herzfeld) for the religious / heritage constituencies
20 November 2018

15. Thank you for your attention!
Department of Anthropology
Thank you for your attention!
20 November 2018