Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Collective Memory and Identity: Challenges and Innovative Methodologies

Abstract (English)

The tangible and intangible culture of a community are reinterpreted and re-signified in the process of transmission from generation to generation. These bring to our present the voice of historical subjects, their ideas and imaginaries, their struggles and their collective experiences. Contemporary times have seen heritage and collective memory play significant role in the processes of cultural identity and self-representation, as well as in their socio-cultural dynamics and practices in the space-time context in which they develop. With globalization and technological development, the methods of recovering and preserving cultural heritage have undergone changes that add to the historical processes of consolidation of modern nation-states and the advance of capitalism over the spaces and imaginaries of the community, revealing tensions and disputes.

Preserving the tangible and intangible culture exposes us to the revision of our research methodologies, particularly in the articulated work with the communities. On the one hand, it consists of examining, documenting, evaluating, maintaining, protecting and recovering physical objects, life stories, as well as personal texts, images, photographs and videos, among others. On the other hand, community participation plays a fundamental role in identifying and preserving them and together with it ensuring their accessibility and availability. Preservation of heritage also relates to the preservation of the community identity as perceived by the community (the self).

This roundtable aims to share research experiences related to the recovery and preservation of cultural heritage, in coordination with communities. We are also interested in discussing the challenges faced during preservation efforts and what innovative or traditional techniques are used/can be used to overcome them. Welcome scholars, students and stakeholders from different disciplines and latitudes to encourage dialogues and enrich understanding of the importance of preserving cultural heritage, memory and community identity at contemporary times.