From Antiquities to Heritage: Transformations of Cultural Memory (Time and the World: Interdisciplinary Studies in Cultural Transformations, 1)

Eighteenth-century gentleman scholars collected antiquities. Nineteenth-century nation states built museums to preserve their historical monuments. In the present world, heritage is a global concern as well as an issue of identity politics. What does it mean when runic stones or medieval churches are transformed from antiquities to monuments to heritage sites? This book argues that the transformations concern more than words alone: They reflect fundamental changes in the way we experience the past, and the way historical objects are assigned meaning and value in the present. This book presents a series of cases from Norwegian culture to explore how historical objects and sites have changed in meaning over time. It contributes to the contemporary debates over collective memory and cultural heritage as well to our knowledge about early modern antiquarianism. Anne Eriksen is a Professor in Cultural History at the University of Oslo, Norway, and an expert on collective memory and forms of historical knowledge. Among her recent publications are __Negotiating Pasts in the Nordic Countries__ (ed. with. J.V. Sigurdsson, 2009) and __Museum. En kulturhistorie__ (2009). Eighteenth-century gentleman scholars collected antiquities. Nineteenth-century nation states built museums to preserve their historical monuments. In the present world, heritage is a global concern as well as an issue of identity politics. What does it mean when runic stones or medieval churches are transformed from antiquities to monuments to heritage sites? This book argues that the transformations concern more than words alone: They reflect fundamental changes in the way we experience the past, and the way historical objects are assigned meaning and value in the present. This book presents a series of cases from Norwegian culture to explore how historical objects and sites have changed in meaning over time. It contributes to the contemporary debates over collective memory and cultural heritage as well to our knowledge about early modern antiquarianism.-- Provided by Publisher Introduction -- Heritage And Cultural Memory -- In Search Of Ancient Heroes -- Antiquarianism And Epistemic Virtue -- Ruins And Time -- Mediaeval Monuments -- Museums To Preserve Our Past -- Monuments And Memorials -- Cultural Property, Cultural Heritage -- Heritage And Presentism. Anne Eriksen. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 166-173) And Index.