James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

AY5021:06

Key Concepts in Heritage Studies

Townsville

Inadmissable Subject Combination: AY5004

Flexible delivery – distance mode. First semester.

Available to students who have completed a BA(Hons) or a BSocSc(Hons) in anthropology or archaeology or a BSc(Hons) in archaeology or other equivalent qualification approved by the Executive Dean on advice from the Head of School.

Staff:

To be advised.

This subject critically evaluates a range of concepts used in heritage management and applied research in anthropology and archaeology. Apart from ‘heritage’ itself, such concepts include ‘culture’ and ‘society’, ‘custom’ and ‘tradition’, ‘sites’ and ‘cultural landscapes’, ‘management’ and ‘development’, ‘cultural resource’ and ‘environment’ etc.

Evaluation of the meanings ascribed to these key concepts is important as they are used in legislation, government and international policy, in the media and in the expression of social and cultural identities. This subject will focus on the way in which these meanings have been historically and politically produced and their current usage in heritage practice.

Learning Objectives:

  1. identify and outline the historical production and reproduction of a number of key terms and concepts;
  2. become conversant with the complexity of the concept of cultural heritage and other lay terms;
  3. appreciation of the varied use and meanings of these terms in a range of social contexts;
  4. understand the implications of these concepts as used by professionals in heritage studies.

Assessment by written assignments (100%).