Thesis by Ruth Scheidhauer
Cultural heritage interpretation and policy in Kaesŏng, DPR Korea and their possible impact on inter-Korean rapprochement
"Korea’s dividing ideologies of the past century, and the dominant efforts to legitimise the resp... more "Korea’s dividing ideologies of the past century, and the dominant efforts to legitimise the respective political agendas of the two States, have had an impact on the interpretation of, and the choice of focus within, cultural heritage and history. Cultural heritage policies are part of this particular historical narrative, reflected in heritage interpretations and activities. Whereas the socio-political studies of unification focus on a territorial unification, an approach coming from cultural heritage has the potential advantage of being able to focus on congruence through common roots, views of history and cultural values. Through an analysis of historical events and cultural heritage in the North Korean border town Kaesŏng, the research highlights the contribution of cultural heritage to past, present and future national perceptions. It also explores the impact that current socio-political developments have in turn on cultural heritage interpretations.
Cultural heritage has not been, and will not to be, the major player in rapprochement politics practiced in South or North Korea. However, as a medium for collective memory and reflection, it can be a useful tool of rapprochement. Although heavily regulated by political agendas, recent joint Korean excavations in Kaesŏng, and one-day tourism tours for South Koreans to the site, provided an unique chance to observe the beginning of historical reflection on contested, compromised and shared cultural interpretations. For a time, the convergence of diverse and shared interpretations provided for the first steps towards mutual recognition and acknowledgement: that activities need to be continued."
For a download of the full dissertation (with limited illustrations) visit the website http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1336212/
Papers by Ruth Scheidhauer
“Korea is one!” and other slogans, handshakes, rainbows and transnational railway connections, th... more “Korea is one!” and other slogans, handshakes, rainbows and transnational railway connections, these are but some of the images of Korean unification. Frequently they are mingled with the respective national flags to mark boundaries or supposed partnership.
However, more often than not the message of these images creates a schizophrenic identity between the demarcating states and the unified nation.
A description of past efforts for nation building in Korea will demonstrate the power of cultural policies and practices to connect and emotionally bond the people to the wished ideology and state.
In order to create a strong shared identity, that of a Kulturnation (cultural nation), encompassing the Korean peninsula, current nation identities need to be taken into account.
For the new desired identity it should be determined which elements of these identities are to be kept, lost or which ones added anew. This paper argues that the marketing aesthetics of unification should rely more on emotionally powerful cultural and localized symbols to increase their potential to promote a shared identity and mutual trust.
National Museums: New Studies from Around the World, 2010
Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Korean Studies, 2010
National crisis, has many faces. To most it provokes associations with the economic crisis. But h... more National crisis, has many faces. To most it provokes associations with the economic crisis. But how does it translate in our cultural practices and self-identifications then and now, a crisis most constant in Korean history? In this paper I aim to look at the role cultural heritage has played in some of the most challenging times of the Korean nation in interplay between state legitimisation and cultural values. I will thus explore some of the cultural theories, nation identifications and cultural interpretations and policies that developed at times of enhanced nation-building in the town Kaesong. From dynastic change, over strengthening and educating the nation to fight foreign domination in the very beginning of the twentieth century, over demarcating interpretations and defamations of cultural atrocities after the Korean War, to the cooperation in reclaiming shared cultural goods beginning in the 1990s. Sŏnjukgyo Bridge Kaesong, the Koryŏ period capital, is the scene to a story of loyalty and treason during the dynastic change from Koryŏ to Chosŏn. The Koryŏ scholar Chŏng Mongju (鄭夢周 1337-1392) is remembered as the ideal scholar and dynasty loyalist and one of the most prominent figures in the period of dynastic change. Although Chŏng Mongju participated in the forceful succession and installed King Kongyang on the throne in 1389, he allegedly opposed the
Kaesŏng Koryŏ Museum: Disseminating multiple nation narratives
KSGSC conference, Aug 2009
Promoting cultural heritage to consolidate state ideologies: The interpretation battle for the legitimate succession to the first unified Korean kingdom
KSGSC conference, Aug 2008
Working Papers by Ruth Scheidhauer
L’héritage du griot : l’interprétation de la légende de « Soundjata » à travers les différents media (orale, chronique, théâtrale, romanesque, et filmique)
La légende de «Soundjata» occupe une place essentielle dans l'histoire de l'Afrique occidentale... more La légende de «Soundjata» occupe une place essentielle dans l'histoire de l'Afrique occidentale. Dans une tradition orale ininterrompue, elle s'est propagée jusqu'à notre époque entretenue par les griots (Jansen 2001). Cependant, dans le dernier siècle, cet héritage a perdu son monopole narratif et interprétatif. Des nouvelles interprétations transmises à travers différents media font de la concurrence au griot dans sa profession. Mais en même temps ils provoquent aussi des réappréciations du sujet et de son narrateur traditionnel qui est le griot.
Dans ce qui suit, nous allons discuter ce qu’est l’héritage du griot et son moyen narratif, l’oralité. Ensuite on va montrer les transformations de la légende « Soundjata » dans les différents media narratives et la relation avec leurs objectifs respectifs.
International cooperation to help soothe cultural conflicts ? A view on aid in Mali
Touristic white spots. Mapping natural and cultural heritage sites along and across Senegalese state borders.
With its neighbouring countries, Senegal shares the problem on how to develop the idle potential ... more With its neighbouring countries, Senegal shares the problem on how to develop the idle potential of its natural and cultural heritage sites for tourism, especially those located in secluded border areas. Although these sites would be worth visiting, they are handicapped by long travel distance to city and visitor centres, as well as by bad infrastructure. Scattered and remote, they remain white spots and await their discovery on the tourism map.
The proposed study will examine recent attempts of cross border cooperation after their shared inscription as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in order to jointly raise the profile of border areas for tourism. It still needs to be seen if it is possible to turn the initial geographical disadvantage into a touristic asset. Yet even the first tender steps of government representatives and cultural professionals involved in cross border engagement have already proven to bring welcome changes to the local and international esteem of the individual sites.
Koryŏ Royal Burial Sites in Kaesŏng, DPRK
Kaesŏng Namdaemun Gate and City Walls
Book Reviews by Ruth Scheidhauer
Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic / Rupert Graf Strachwitz (Eds.), Heritage and the Building of Europe
www.academici.com., Dec 10, 2008
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Thesis by Ruth Scheidhauer
Cultural heritage has not been, and will not to be, the major player in rapprochement politics practiced in South or North Korea. However, as a medium for collective memory and reflection, it can be a useful tool of rapprochement. Although heavily regulated by political agendas, recent joint Korean excavations in Kaesŏng, and one-day tourism tours for South Koreans to the site, provided an unique chance to observe the beginning of historical reflection on contested, compromised and shared cultural interpretations. For a time, the convergence of diverse and shared interpretations provided for the first steps towards mutual recognition and acknowledgement: that activities need to be continued."
For a download of the full dissertation (with limited illustrations) visit the website http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1336212/
Papers by Ruth Scheidhauer
However, more often than not the message of these images creates a schizophrenic identity between the demarcating states and the unified nation.
A description of past efforts for nation building in Korea will demonstrate the power of cultural policies and practices to connect and emotionally bond the people to the wished ideology and state.
In order to create a strong shared identity, that of a Kulturnation (cultural nation), encompassing the Korean peninsula, current nation identities need to be taken into account.
For the new desired identity it should be determined which elements of these identities are to be kept, lost or which ones added anew. This paper argues that the marketing aesthetics of unification should rely more on emotionally powerful cultural and localized symbols to increase their potential to promote a shared identity and mutual trust.
Working Papers by Ruth Scheidhauer
Dans ce qui suit, nous allons discuter ce qu’est l’héritage du griot et son moyen narratif, l’oralité. Ensuite on va montrer les transformations de la légende « Soundjata » dans les différents media narratives et la relation avec leurs objectifs respectifs.
The proposed study will examine recent attempts of cross border cooperation after their shared inscription as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in order to jointly raise the profile of border areas for tourism. It still needs to be seen if it is possible to turn the initial geographical disadvantage into a touristic asset. Yet even the first tender steps of government representatives and cultural professionals involved in cross border engagement have already proven to bring welcome changes to the local and international esteem of the individual sites.
Book Reviews by Ruth Scheidhauer