Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is a concept developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to recognize and protect the intangible aspects of culture, such as music, dance, theater, and craftsmanship, which are essential to the identity and continuity of communities around the world, including those in Japan, China, and India. The concept of intangible cultural heritage is closely related to the work of Anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss, Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, and Cultural Theorist Michel Foucault. The recognition and protection of intangible cultural heritage have been influenced by international agreements, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted by UNESCO in 2005.

Introduction to Intangible Cultural Heritage

The concept of intangible cultural heritage has its roots in the 1960s and 1970s, when UNESCO began to recognize the importance of preserving cultural heritage beyond physical monuments and sites, such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Wall of China. This shift in focus was influenced by the work of Anthropologist Clifford Geertz, Sociologist Émile Durkheim, and Philosopher Martin Heidegger, who emphasized the significance of cultural practices and traditions in shaping human identity and community. The introduction of the concept of intangible cultural heritage has been instrumental in promoting the recognition and protection of cultural expressions, such as the Kabuki theater of Japan, the Peking Opera of China, and the Bharatanatyam dance of India, as well as the cultural heritage of Africa, including the Maasai people and the Zulu Kingdom.

Definition and Criteria

The definition and criteria for intangible cultural heritage were established by UNESCO in 2003, with the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. According to this convention, intangible cultural heritage includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, and craftsmanship, such as the woodblock printing of Japan and the textile weaving of Guatemala. The criteria for recognition include the significance of the cultural expression, its transmission and viability, and the community's involvement in its preservation, as seen in the cases of the Ghanaian Kente cloth and the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations. The definition and criteria have been influenced by the work of Cultural Theorist Homi Bhabha, Anthropologist James Clifford, and Sociologist Arjun Appadurai, who have written about the complexities of cultural identity and the importance of community participation in cultural preservation.

UNESCO Recognition and Protection

UNESCO recognition and protection of intangible cultural heritage are carried out through the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, which was established in 2008. This list includes cultural expressions, such as the Flamenco music and dance of Spain, the Tango of Argentina and Uruguay, and the Reggae music of Jamaica. The recognition and protection of intangible cultural heritage are also supported by UNESCO's International Fund for the Promotion of Culture, which provides financial assistance to projects that promote and preserve cultural diversity, such as the Festival of Sacred Music in Fez, Morocco, and the Carnival of Oruro in Bolivia. The work of UNESCO in this area has been influenced by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Types of Intangible Cultural Heritage

The types of intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO include oral traditions, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Iliad and Odyssey of Ancient Greece; performing arts, such as the Kathakali dance of India and the Noh theater of Japan; social practices, such as the Naadam Festival of Mongolia and the Tomatina festival of Spain; and craftsmanship, such as the glassblowing of Murano, Italy and the woodcarving of Africa. These cultural expressions are essential to the identity and continuity of communities around the world, including those in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The recognition and protection of these cultural expressions have been influenced by the work of Anthropologist Bronisław Malinowski, Sociologist Marcel Mauss, and Cultural Theorist Roland Barthes.

Preservation and Transmission Efforts

Preservation and transmission efforts for intangible cultural heritage include documentation, education, and community-based initiatives, such as the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity program, which was established by UNESCO in 2001. This program aims to promote and preserve cultural expressions, such as the Aka music of Central Africa and the Chau dance of India, through documentation, education, and community-based initiatives. The preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage have also been supported by international cooperation, such as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund, which provides financial assistance to projects that promote and preserve cultural diversity, such as the Festival of World Cultures in Dublin, Ireland, and the Carnival of Binche in Belgium. The work of UNESCO in this area has been influenced by the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Threats and Challenges

The threats and challenges to intangible cultural heritage include globalization, urbanization, and cultural homogenization, which can lead to the erosion of cultural diversity and the loss of traditional practices and expressions, such as the language and customs of indigenous peoples. The preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage are also threatened by natural disasters, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and conflicts, such as the Syrian Civil War, which can damage or destroy cultural artifacts and disrupt cultural practices. The threats and challenges to intangible cultural heritage have been addressed by UNESCO through the development of emergency response plans and disaster risk reduction strategies, such as the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund, which provides financial assistance to projects that respond to cultural heritage emergencies, such as the reconstruction of the old city of Mosul in Iraq. The work of UNESCO in this area has been influenced by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Category: Cultural Heritage