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Seit Oktober 2022 forscht eine neue Gruppe von Doktorand:innen an unserem Graduiertenkolleg. In den folgenden Ausgaben unseres Newsletters geben die Kollegiat:innen einen Einblick in die Themen und Gegenstände ihrer Arbeiten. Wir beginnen mit drei Fragen an Juan Carlos Barrientos (JB) und Martin Cornejo (MC).
How does your topic fit to the overall topic of the research group?
JB: My research topic, "Reclaiming Identity: The role of Heritage and Post-Colonial Dynamics in Shaping Honduras' National Identity," seamlessly aligns with the overarching theme of the research group. By delving into the intricate exchange between heritage and national identity, specifically in the context of post-colonial Honduras, my study contributes significantly to the group's objective of critically examining processes of social appropriation and interpretation of cultural traditions.
Through a comprehensive analysis grounded in innovative perspectives from the field of heritage studies, my research sheds light on the inherent challenges and opportunities involved in the reclamation and reconstruction of cultural heritage. Drawing upon relevant theoretical frameworks, I explore the multifaceted dimensions of identity construction, the complex dynamics of post-colonialism, and the nuanced politics surrounding heritage.
Importantly, my study addresses key themes emphasized by the research group, such as the necessity for collective affirmation through cultural heritage appropriation, the transformative potential of heritage in shaping identities, and the examination of inclusive and exclusive impacts within identity constructions. Furthermore, my research tackles the critical debate on the ethics of cultural appropriation.
By offering unique insights into the seldom-explored Honduran context, my study extends the scholarly discourse within international academia, enriching our understanding of the intricate interplay between heritage and national identity in that part of the world and from their perspective. It contributes to the research group's scholarly endeavours by providing a comprehensive analysis rooted in heritage studies and expands our knowledge of the complexities and implications involved in the post-colonial dynamics of identity formation, particularly in relation to the hegemonic instrumentalization of heritage.
MC: My work focuses on the gentrification of historic urban landscapes. I understand gentrification not only as a political and economic process of space dislocation but also as a symbolic process of urban change. Through the recognition of historic urban landscapes as heritage, they are transfigured into necessary objects that guarantee the unity of state, people, and culture, and therefore, they must be preserved. Yet, during their preservation historic urban landscapes tend to be restored, modified, or even destroyed.
As a research group, we study the appropriation of artifacts of the past for today's purposes and the narratives that are developed through these artifacts. In my research, I point out how experts tend to revisit the past and chose elements of it that could match new tourist and commercial enterprises, and therefore, historic urban landscapes are always restored, modified, or destroyed through these lenses. During this process, any commerce that is unprofitable for the key stakeholders, lower income groups, or activities that are not considered culturally relevant is excluded from the historic area. Their exclusion represents not only their physical removal but also their marginalization from the history and culture of the state that these areas are supposed to represent. The goal of our research group is to further access to a democratic understanding of cultural heritage. I believe that by recognizing the exclusion of marginalized groups from the preservation of historic urban landscapes part of this goal is achieved.
What current debates are reflected in your topic?
JB: Firstly, my investigation engages with the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics of cultural appropriation. It explores the complex issues of power, ownership, and representation inherent in the process of reclaiming and reconstructing cultural heritage. By critically examining the dynamics of heritage appropriation, my research contributes to the discussion on engagement with cultural traditions, indigenous rights to culture and equitable representation. The research will also challenge traditional notions on appropriation discourses, offering a fresh perspective on the potential benefits and complexities associated with cultural exchange and incorporation.
Secondly, my study addresses the debates on the role of heritage in shaping national identities and nation building within post-colonial contexts. It examines how the interplay between heritage and national identity can perpetuate or challenge power imbalances, cultural hegemony, and colonial legacies in Central America.
Furthermore, my research contributes to the discourse on the politics of identity and the contestation of historical narratives. By highlighting the inclusive and exclusive impacts of identity formations, my study adds depth to discussions on inclusive heritage practices.
Lastly, my research delves into the complexities of post-colonial dynamics and their influence on identity construction. It critically analyses the ways in which historical marginalisation and cultural genocide have shaped contemporary narratives of identity in Honduras, shedding light on the ongoing struggles for cultural recognition and self-determination.
The research engages with and contributes to the ongoing debates surrounding critical heritage studies, post-colonial studies, national identity studies, cultural identity studies, identity politics studies, interculturalism and the ethics of cultural appropriation, providing valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of identity formation and the complexities of heritage engagement in a post-colonial context.
MC: The first topics that come to my mind are decolonization and gentrification. I am currently researching Cuzco, which is a city that has a vast colonial heritage. Furthermore, the political, economic, and social processes through which it is planned, modified, and lived are still intrinsically linked to the colonial institutions that planned and built the architecture that the world currently recognizes as heritage.
Gentrification is also an ongoing process in the city. Authorities focus on exploiting the tourist and commercial potential of the city and facilitating the physical eviction of those who don't participate in those industries. As a result, the city depopulates and experiences radical demographic, cultural, and social changes.
What are you reading now?
JB: At the moment I am reading the book “Interculturalism, the new era of cohesion and diversity” by Ted Cantle. The book presents a transformative perspective on cultural integration, challenging the traditional framework of multiculturalism. In this book, Cantle argues that multiculturalism, while successful in the past, is no longer suited to the contemporary age of globalisation and super diversity.
Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach that encompasses human rights, citizenship, education, work, health, and housing, Cantle introduces the concept of interculturalism as a replacement for multiculturalism. He emphasises the importance of acknowledging and enabling cultures to have currency, circulate, evolve, and be modified, rather than preserving them in isolation. Interculturalism promotes the exchange and interaction of cultures within society, fostering social changes and facilitating cultural integration.
This book proposes to fill the gap in academic development and policy implementation of interculturalism. Cantle sets out to create a clear and progressive vision for interculturalism, liberating it from the complexities and contested nature of multiculturalism.
The book's exploration of interculturalism aligns with my investigation into the complexities of cultural integration and the dynamics of identity construction within a multicultural context.
Cantle's emphasis on acknowledging and enabling cultures to circulate, evolve, and be modified resonates with my examination of how cultural heritage is reclaimed and reconstructed in Honduras. The book's interdisciplinary approach, encompassing human rights, citizenship, education, and other key aspects, may contribute to my study's comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in heritage reclamation.
Furthermore, Cantle's critique of multiculturalism and the need for a progressive rethinking of cultural policies aligns with my exploration of the tensions and debates surrounding national and cultural identity in post-colonial Honduras. The book's examination of the changing landscape of globalisation and super diversity offers valuable insights into the complexities of navigating identity politics and cultural appropriation.
MC: Currently, I am focusing on the research of Dr. Helaine Silverman, who has a vast work on the administration of Daniel Estrada, who served three periods as Cuzco’s Major. Estrada remodeled and constructed several public spaces. These projects included the construction of statues, monuments, and even the modification of the script of Cuzco’s main festival. All these projects followed an iconography based on an artistic movement from the 1920s called ‚Indigenismo’. That pursue to develop a new sense of belonging for those who were marginalized during the Spanish occupation and the early aristocratic republic. Indigenous pursuit to create historical bridges between the Peruvian population in the 20th century and the pre-Colombian cultures of the region by developing a new semiology and iconography filled with stories about Inca warriors and indigenous precursors of the Spanish independence.
‘Indigenismo’ follows the patterns of some previous historical movements that have engaged in historicism, like naturalism and romanticism. I found this particularly relevant as I recently, read ‘Retroland, Geschichtstourismus und die Sehnsucht nach dem Authentischen’ by Valentin Gröbner and ‘Zones of Tradition, places of Identity’ by Gerhard Vinken. Both books give several examples of the production of historic towns during the early decades of the 18th century. |
