PhD Workshop: Dissonant Heritage: Concepts, Critiques, Cases

Bologna and Kraków, 16 - 20 Novembre 2021

Deadline for applications (extended): 15 June 2021
Selection of the proposals: 30 June 2021

The difficulty/dissonance of heritage appears in interpretative strategies created by various stakeholders carrying out its evaluation, which stems from the type of materials (e.g. highly sensitive ones) and objects, historical and cultural conditions, current political determinants, ethical, religious and legal issues as well as personal beliefs and motivations of individuals and groups involved in the interpretative process. The consequence of these discrepancies, tensions, and in some cases real entanglements and conflicts, is that there are many challenges in sustaining and managing this kind of heritage. One might say that dissonance appears in interpretative strategies of heritage created by various entities carrying out its evaluation. This stems from historical and cultural conditions, current political determinants, as well as the personal beliefs and motivations of individuals and groups involved in the interpretative process.

 It is possible to list many examples of difficult/unwanted/rejected/omitted/forgotten/ uncomfortable/controversial heritage:
- heritage of totalitarian regimes or heritage incorporating values contrasting with universal human rights in general,
- heritage denying women’s rights,
- heritage of pain and shame / heritage of trauma,
- queer or LGBTQ+ heritage,
- indigenous heritage,
- race and the legacy of slavery, colonial heritage,
- heritage of disaster,
- heritage of environmental damage,
- human remains in scientific and museum contexts,
- war heritage,
- iconoclasm.

During the workshop, we would like to explore and suggest four main cross-cutting themes: a. Unveiling the dissonance of the scientific museum collections b. The virtual dimension of cultural heritage experiences c. Designing the social sustainability of dissonant heritage d. Arts and dissonance

The call is for PhD students interested in studying the complex process of adjustments, collaborations and (or) conflicts in relation to difficult/dissonant heritages. The call is open to all cultural and geographical areas of study, and to all fields or specialties of cultural heritage. 3.1 ORGANISATION Since the workshop will be organised in two locations (Bologna and Kraków), the PhD students will be divided into two groups (where possible on the basis of their first and second choice) going to either Bologna or Kraków. The duration of the workshop is 5 full days, during which the organizers will propose lectures, seminars, fieldwork, and meetings with museums, archives, heritage societies, NGOs, stakeholders in public history, intangible heritage, and heritage businesses. The workshop will have an interactive format in order to facilitate communication and debates between PhD students from both locations. The PhD students selected will have to engage in active participation before, during and after the workshop. The main language will be English.

Further information in the attached document.