The Representation of the Past: Museums and Heritage in the Post-Modern World (Heritage: Care-Preservation-Management)

Examines how the recent boom in the museum and heritage industry has led to its increasing commercialisation, which, Walsh argues, frequently serves only to distance us from our own heritage. The 1980s and early 1990s have seen a marked increase in public interest in our historic environment. The museum and heritage industry has expanded as the past is exploited for commercial profit. In The Representation of the Past, Kevin Walsh examines this international trend and questions the packaging of history which serves only to distance people from their own heritage. A superficial, unquestioning portrayal of the past, he feels, separates us from an understanding of our cultural and political present. Here, Walsh suggests a number of ways in which the museum can fulfill its potential - by facilitating our comprehension of cultural identity. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 The idea of modernity......Page 16 Post-modern societies I......Page 48 Post-modern societies II......Page 62 Conserving a past......Page 79 Simulating the past......Page 103 Heritage reconsidered......Page 125 A sense of place......Page 157 The museum as a facilitator......Page 169 Conclusion: the remoteness of the past......Page 185 Bibliography......Page 193 Index......Page 201 Arts, Language and Literature Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Acknowledgements 8 Introduction 10 The idea of modernity 16 Post-modern societies I 48 Post-modern societies II 62 Conserving a past 79 Simulating the past 103 Heritage reconsidered 125 A sense of place 157 The museum as a facilitator 169 Conclusion: the remoteness of the past 185 Bibliography 193 Index 201 This work argues that museums should shoulder at least some of the blame for a superficial, unquestioning portrayal of the past which ultimately separates people from an understanding of their economic, political and cultural present