Study Abroad Library

Understanding Global Heritage

Why do people value things from the past? Why are some aspects of history preserved and others allowed to disappear? Who decides what parts of history should be preserved and why? Why do people from different parts of the world value different parts of the past? What does Heritage mean in today's multi-cultural global context? Understanding Global Heritage offers the student an opportunity to learn about the theory and application of both natural and anthropogenic 'heritage' within today's global context. Through developing a critical approach to defining what is heritage the student will learn about its origins in the global west and evaluate its affect on the wider world. Students will learn to evaluate and critique both image and textual sources and learn how to use these skills in deconstructing 'heritage value'. Through the use of case studies and visits to Iceland's heritage sites students will critically evaluate UNESCO's World Heritage scheme. They will also learn to apply an understanding of the key themes of Critical Heritage Studies, Authorised Heritage Discourses and Alternative Heritages in forming their own opinions of the role of the past in the present.