Connecting Things: Objects and Heritage Constructions (6th Annual Conference)

This year’s conference focuses on the objects that come into view when researching identity and heritage constructs: when things are ascribed symbolic meaning, and often multiple and potentially conflicting meaning, they can become relevant as ‘heritage’ for perceptions of commonality and self.

In other words, narratives that inform heritage references are linked to certain forms of materialisations; among them, artefacts, built structures, places, photographs, images, or texts. What insights can a focus on such things yield about present-day references to the past? For example, how things come to be considered significant, irrelevant or offensive by certain actors, whether they carry fixed socio-cultural meanings, and what role they play in the formation of new or as yet under-recognised constructs of heritage? This perspective becomes increasingly important as interest in heritage constructions emerging from (formerly) non-authorized discourses grows; not only because more objects then become relevant for research, but also because contradictory appropriations and interpretations come into focus. Moreover, this view of the object requires a reexamination of guiding theoretical concepts in heritage research; such as (conceptual) understandings of the temporality and materiality of heritage objects.

By placing the focus on research objects, the 6^th annual conference of the DFG Research Training Group ‘Identity and Heritage’ invites participants to raise such open theoretical questions. The conference is not only a space in which to present research outcomes, but also a forum for reviewing established research approaches, contexts, and situations. The standard lecture format is complemented by a poster-exhibition on the objects being researched by the Research Training Group, which takes place in the foyer next to the Architekturforum.

November 24^th and 25^th, Technische Universität Berlin, Architekturforum, Straße des 17. Juni 152, Berlin

PROGRAM INCLUDING ALL ABSTRACTS (PDF, GER/ENG)

Programm