CULTURAL FORMS

AND THREATS
CULTURAL FORMS AND THREATS

• A good portion of culture is visible and tangible since it

consists of a huge number of products conceived and
manufactured by people
• The diversity of culture is a source of creativity, innovation,
and renewal, and is vital for the continuity of human
development.
 TANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

• universal concept - it belongs to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of

the territory on which it is located
• UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and
preservation of the cultural and natural heritage around the world
considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World ultural and Natural
Heritage, 1972.
 INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

• “living” cultural heritage, reflects new approaches to the

understanding, protection and respect for the cultural heritage of
humanity

• “driving force” of cultural diversity, its maintenance is a guarantee

for continuing creativity

• UNESCO has one of the leading roles in safeguarding of the

intangible cultural heritage
 TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE

TANGIBLE
 monuments, groups of buildings, sites
 other immoveables and moveables
 TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE

INTANGIBLE
 practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, instruments, objects,
artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith - that communities, groups
and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage

 manifested in the following domains:

 oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage;
 performing arts;
 social practices, rituals and festive events;
 knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe;
 traditional craftsmanship.
 TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE

TANGIBLE
 increasingly threatened by destruction
 causes:
 traditional causes of decay
 change of social and economic conditions

 is of outstanding interest and therefore needs to be

preserved as part of the world heritage of mankind as
a whole
 TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE

INTANGIBLE
 threats of deterioration, disappearance and destruction
 causes:
 lack of resources for safeguarding
 processes of globalization and social transformation, alongside the conditions they create for
renewed dialogue among communities
 phenomenon of intolerance

 the need to build greater awareness, especially among the younger

generations, of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage and of its
safeguarding
 CULTURAL DIVERSITY

• cultural expressions of groups and societies, whatever the means

and technologies used

• represents common heritage of humanity and full realization of

human rights and fundamental freedoms

• UNESCO has one of the leading roles in protecting and

promoting cultural diversity
What is Cultural Heritage?

 Tangible cultural heritage: immovable

                 
   
What is Cultural Heritage?

 Tangible cultural heritage: movable

Natural heritage
Intangible cultural heritage (oral traditions,
performing arts, rituals)
 What is Cultural Heritage – Role in Community and Identity

• Meeting places to
strengthen relationships
• Physical anchors within a
community
• A sense of local and
regional identity
• A sense of belonging
• Maintain community
pride
 What is Cultural Heritage: Heritage & Sacred Sites

A place for….
• developing spirituality
• seeking higher knowledge,
wisdom
• physical, emotional, and
spiritual healing
• connecting with our past
• connecting with our future
 The Need to Protect Our Cultural Heritage

We continue losing our Heritage to Disasters

 The Need to Protect Cultural Heritage from Disasters

• In order to safeguard intangible cultural heritage,

it must remain relevant to a culture and be
regularly practiced and learned within
communities and between generations.