2016 International Symposium
‘Reclaiming Identity and (Re)Materializing Pasts: Approaches to Heritage Conservation in China’
6-8 April 2016
The Xi’an-Jiaotong Liverpool University, China and the University of Liverpool, UK are organising an exciting international symposium on ‘Reclaiming Identity and (Re)Materializing Pasts: Approaches to Heritage Conservation in China’. The symposium will take place from 6 April to 8 April 2016 and will be held in Xi’an Jiatong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou on the east coast of China.
The symposium is free of charge to delegates whose papers are accepted for presentation. Travelling and accommodation costs may be fully or partially covered by the organising committee. We intend to publish selected papers in book form. Abstracts of 300-400 words should be submitted by the 16 October 2015 to heritageofchina2016@xjtlu.edu.cn. For more information about the symposium, please visit the official website: http://upd.xjtlu.edu.cn/heritageofchina2016
CONFERENCE THEMES
We invite original papers for submission that address and/or challenge the following questions under the proposed three sub-themes:
Sub-theme 1. Sanitised Narratives of Heritage.
This theme explores the ways in which historic places or heritage sites are interpreted and re-materialised in the present so to construct narratives of cultural belonging and identity, and/or the strategies and measures employed in heritage management to validate a sanitised narrative of a Reinterpreted Past, Reinvented Past, or Disremembered Past.
Sub-theme 2. Politics of Heritage
This theme examines the political role of heritage and focuses on the extrinsic values of historical buildings and places, where heritage is deemed a process of political choices and negotiation about what relics of the past are chosen to be remembered (or forgotten) and protected and by whom. Papers may address the aspect of Contested Heritage, Democratisation of Heritage, or Unorthodox Chinese-ness.
Sub-theme 3. Commodification of Heritage
This theme explores the notion of heritage as “cultural goods”; commodities to be bought and sold as part of the tourism industry. Papers may draw on the notion of a false or erroneous depiction of the past which questions the Western understanding of authenticity. Questions may relate to Selling the Past/Place, Valorisation of Heritage, or Disneyfication of Heritage.
IMPORTANT DATES
Deadline for Abstract Submission: Friday 16 October 2015
Notification of Abstract Acceptance: Monday 16 November 2015
Deadline for Presentation Paper: Friday 22 January 2016
Notification of Presentation Acceptance: Monday 22 February 2016
Symposium: Wednesday 6 April to Friday 8 April 2016
Final Paper: Friday 10 June 2016
ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University / Dr. Yi-Wen Wang, Department of
Urban Planning and Design
University of Liverpool / Dr. Carol Ludwig, Department of Geography and Planning