ANTROPOLOGIA DEL PATRIMONIO E DEL TURISMO

The aim of the course is to provide the critical and conceptual tools needed to interpret heritagization processes and contemporary tourism phenomena from an anthropological perspective. An in-depth study of the relevant literature and an examination of the social dynamics surrounding the concepts of heritage and tourism, based on specific ethnographic examples, will enable students to acquire the following skills:

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the main theoretical approaches within cultural anthropology, heritage studies and the anthropology of tourism relating to heritagization processes and contemporary tourism phenomena. In particular, they will understand: the dynamics of the construction, promotion and transmission of cultural heritage (tangible, intangible, landscape and environmental); the role of the concepts of identity, collective memory and representations of places in shaping heritagization processes; the territorial promotion policies pursued by local, national and supranational institutions (first and foremost UNESCO) and their impact on local communities; the social, symbolic and territorial conflicts associated with heritagization and touristification processes, also in light of debates on the cultural, social and environmental sustainability of tourism.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Students will be able to critically analyse heritagization and tourism development processes, identifying the actors, rhetorics and power relations at play; to use the disciplinary vocabulary appropriately; to relate theoretical perspectives to concrete case studies, both Italian and from outside Europe; and to familiarise themselves with the basic tools for planning ethnographic research applied to territorial contexts.

Making judgements

Through engagement with case studies and workshop activities, students will develop the ability to critically evaluate the rhetoric and policies of heritagization and their impact on communities and territories, formulating independent judgements even on controversial issues (conflicts, exclusion, forms of resistance).

Communication skills

Students will acquire the ability to present the topics covered using appropriate disciplinary language, thanks in part to classroom debates moderated by the lecturer and direct engagement with artists, documentary filmmakers and experts in territorial practices as part of the workshop.

Learning skills

The course, which combines lectures, seminars, workshop activities and urban walks, provides students with the tools to continue exploring topics related to heritage, tourism and territorial transformations independently, including with a view to future ethnographic research projects.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

No specific prerequisites are required, apart from a good ability to understand complex texts.

The course will be divided into three parts that are interrelated and not necessarily distinct in their temporal sequence, described below by themes and topics:

Introductory part

Elements of cultural anthropology; Theoretical and methodological tools for the critical analysis of heritagization processes and contemporary tourism phenomena; Heritage and tourism as social and cultural processes for defining and negotiating the value of places; Approaches within cultural anthropology, heritage studies and the anthropology of tourism; Identity, collective memory, representations of places; Relations between global processes and local dimensions; The role of heritage communities; Basic tools for planning ethnographic research.

Monographic course — Heritagization processes, tourism development and territorial policies. Anthropological perspectives

Actors, rhetoric and power relations in the transformation of territories, cultural practices and landscapes into "heritage" and a tourism resource; Territorial promotion policies pursued by local, national and supranational institutions (UNESCO); Tourism development strategies and their impact on local communities: economic opportunities, conflicts, exclusion, forms of resistance; Italian and non-European case studies; The notion of "development" applied to cultural and environmental heritage.

Workshop — Narrating places beyond the tourist gaze. Words, images and practices for narrating territories

Meetings with artists, documentary filmmakers and experts in territorial practices on ways of narrating territories through visual, performative and narrative languages, with attention to claims, conflicts, frictions and forms of reappropriation of spaces. Urban walks. Activity carried out in collaboration with the Tourism, Environment and Urban Transformations Research Laboratory.

The examination consists of an oral interview designed to assess the student’s knowledge of the content covered in the introductory section and the monographic section of the course, as well as their critical participation in the workshop activities. The number of questions may vary from a minimum of three to a maximum of six, with the interview lasting between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the relevance of the answers provided.

The interview will assess in particular: the relevance of the answers to the questions asked; the quality of the content and its theoretical depth; the ability to connect the different topics of the syllabus; the ability to provide examples, including from the case studies discussed in class and in the workshop; the appropiate use of disciplinary terminology command of disciplinary language and overall expressive ability.

For attending students the assessment of the oral examination will also take into account active participation in lessons (relevant contributions in class, independent research and reading, and discussion and dialogue with fellow students and the lecturer). Students may also take a mid-term assessment, the details of which will be communicated at the beginning of the course, after assessing students’ basic level of preparation.

Learning assesment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

What is meant by ‘cultural heritage’ from an anthropological perspective?

What is the relationship between the modern concept of heritage and the concept of risk?

Define the concept of intangible cultural heritage, drawing on the ethnographic examples analysed in the texts.

Describe the evolution of the anthropological approach to the study of tourism.

What are the main criticisms levelled by anthropology at the concept of ‘authenticity’ in processes of heritage-making and touristification?

How do UNESCO policies influence power relations between institutions and local communities?

Discuss the relationship between heritage, collective memory and conflict, drawing on a non-European case study analysed in the texts.

According to D’Eramo, how has the anthropological approach to tourism changed from the post-war period to the present day?

In what sense can heritage be described as a tourist ‘resource’, and what tensions does this shift entail?

Illustrate an example of resistance or reappropriation of spaces by communities involved in processes of touristification.