Heritage as the Source of Identity: Interdependence of Key Heritage Concepts

Abstract

Heritage discourses often emphasise heritage as an essential component of our present identities. Some heritage authorities even assert that identity is a quality attributed to heritage. However, the arguments supporting these claims are only partially convincing. Philosophical perspectives on the issue of identity emphasise its relativity. This relativity is contingent upon temporal fluctuations and, primarily, on the inherent ambiguity of phenomena such as heritage. We understand that no phenomena possess a substantial and permanent identity because they depend on factors and conditions that are constantly changing. This applies to individuals, communities, nations, and the heritage with which they identify. Nevertheless, at a practical level, identity provides relative benefits to individuals and communities. Conventionally, a shared identity involves individuals feeling a connection to their community based on shared values and memories. From a sociological perspective, Maurice Halbwachs introduced the concept of collective memory, which is shaped by the social interactions and traditions of a specific community. Later, proponents of cultural sociology have demonstrated how social groups affirmed and validated their identities through their historical backgrounds. The paper discusses the key concepts of heritage: memory, knowledge, and values. These concepts create a network where the heritage identity dimension can be mapped, correlating to the role heritage plays (or can play) for individuals and contemporary society. In conclusion, my paper illustrates that identity clarifies the interdependence between values, knowledge, and memories as conceptual building blocks of heritage. It also discusses the importance of interdisciplinary heritology (heritage studies) in exploring personal and collective identities that manifest in heritage. The paradoxical nature of personal and group identities lies in their dependence on how we define ourselves in relation to the 'other'. As a result, heritage cannot possess a self-sufficient and distinct identity; instead, its identity can only be fully realised through embracing inclusivity and acknowledging the heritage of others. A society becomes visible to itself and others through its cultural heritage. The past, as reflected in that heritage, along with the values emerging from its identification, reveals much about the viability and prospects of a society.