Short Abstract:
Many parts of our cultures in the world, are intangible, including song, music, dance, drama, skills, cuisine, crafts and festivals. This panel will discuss the intangible cultural heritages and their relations with design ecologies and creative industry.
Long Abstract:
Intangible Cultural Heritage is an UNESCO recognised concept. However, many parts of culture are intangible, including song, music, dance, drama, skills, cuisine, crafts and festivals. The presenters in this panel are basically several members of a 3-year UK-China project who investigated in UK, China and US, which covered "the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills - as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith - that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage" (UNESCO, 2016a). We will discuss the intangible cultural heritages and their relations with design ecologies and creative industry, and consider intangible cultural heritage to be compatible with the requirements of mutual respect among communities, groups and individuals, and of sustainable development. This panel warmly welcomes the scholars from any culture to share their findings.
Accepted papers:
Session 1
Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Creative Ecology of Shanghai
Stuart Walker
(Lancaster University)
Martyn Evans
(Manchester Metropolitan University)
Jeyon Jung
Paper short abstract:
The paper presents initial results from a UK-China project that investigates and visualises ‘creative ecologies’ of traditional practice. From studies in Shanghai, the project looks at the city’s ‘intangible cultural heritage’. It presents findings along with a series of ‘creative ecology’ models.
Paper long abstract:
This paper presents initial findings from a 3-year UK-China research project that investigates and visualises 'creative ecologies' of traditional practice. The project focusses initially on Shanghai's 'intangible cultural heritage', aiming to develop an understanding of the cultural significance of products using the lens of creative ecologies; an analytical model developed by the UK team.
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), a UNESCO recognised designation, covers the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills and the associated instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces that communities recognize as part of their cultural heritage. In an increasingly globalised world, ICH provides communities with a sense of identity and connection to their past, and is a means of promoting cultural diversity. Continually transforming, ICH is recreated by communities and contributes to the vibrancy of place. Its value is derived from the knowledge, skills, traditions and living expressions that are transmitted from one generation to the next.
We present critical insights, developed in collaboration with our Chinese colleagues. We describe how ICH has been recognised, protected and supported; present examples of how ICH is preserved today; and offer an understanding of how ICH can inform a creative ecology for Shanghai that visualises the existing condition, and a 'design ecology' that shows constructive possibilities for design. The research identifies characteristics of ICH in Shanghai, including the physical and aesthetic importance of architecture and 'place'; the role of museums in promoting, training, and sustaining cultural heritage; the recognition of 'old brand' enterprises; and policy level engagement by the regional government.
"The Clock Cannot be Put Back": The Importance of Traditional Forms of Economy in Maltese Tourism
Melissa Clement
(University of Northern B.C.)
Paper short abstract:
The rise of traditional craft shops on the islands of Malta and Gozo went hand-in-hand with the creation of the tourist industry in the nation. This article will look in-depth as to why traditional shops were created and how they were important for the Maltese identity and economy.
Paper long abstract:
The Second World War took its toll on Europe, restructuring national boundaries, decimating cities, and changed many countries politically and economically. In the years after the war, the Maltese government not only had to rebuild the country, but the economy had to be restructured over the next 20 years as Britain removed its naval bases and granted independence. Today, the tourism industry has become the primary means of employment for many in the country. Specifically, the cultural and heritage sectors are important with traditional craft skills such as lace-making and filigree becoming a key part of the sector. This paper will delve into the creation of the traditional economy into a viable source of income. Through interviews, oral histories, and ethnographic and historical research primarily done on the island of Gozo, the traditional craft shops will be studied to see their importance for societal identity in a time of uncertainty and upheaval.
A Study of the Cognitive Research on Lijiang Listed as the World Heritage Tourist Destination
Yue He
(Yunnan Normal University)
Paper short abstract:
Nowadays, “Heritage Hot” and “Heritage Tourism” are a heated topic in Chinese tourism. In terms of meaning, there are various interpretations for heritage. From the positive perspective, the word, “heritage”, means a kind of publicly-recognized culture or resource and is a symbolic token of a certain area.
Paper long abstract:
Among 34 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and special administrative regions in China, Lijiang has two world heritage sites - the Old Town of Lijiang registered in 1997 and the Three Parallel Rivers registered in 2003.