The module ‘Local Heritage in a Global Context’ provides an insight into the complexities of cultural heritage in a globalizing world’. Broadly divided into the three components, it combines breadth (tangible vs intangible heritage, heritage theories, and consideration of urban heritage value in history, architecture and society), diversity ( global vs local debates, historic vs contemporary heritage and comparative heritage case studies, world heritage sites) and specificity (ethical, political and environmental practices) in past and contemporary societies, indigenous heritage conservation techniques and practices, place making and cultural identities, hybridity and acculturation).
This team-taught module builds on a wide range of disciplines and staff expertise in architecture, urbanism, cultural geography and history to provide a rich interrogation of tensions of ascribing value to the past in a fast-urbanising world, as well as the intricacies of contemporary place making and acculturation practices. It also draws on knowledge from outside the academy, in relation to governance, heritage management and urban transformation, for example, to integrate public-facing and professional learning with research-informed critical inquiry