Malgorzata Trelka
Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage, University of Birmingham
This case study illustrates the paradox of an industrial town that was partly demolished and its inhabitants moved to other locations in order to make way for the development of new infrastructure. Some of the destroyed buildings were relocated and reconstructed close to their original location in the artificially created town that was designed as a tourist heritage attraction.
This paper will discuss the relationship between the concept of continuity, constancy and familiarity and cultural places which have strong historical associations. Is it possible that our actions concerning conservation and change in cultural places are connected to an understanding of a sense of self? Grenville uses the concept of ontological security developed by Giddens based on the “confidence that human beings have in the continuity of their self-identity and the constancy of the surrounding social and material environments of action.” She argues that unfamiliar physical places can bring a sense of existential ‘loss’.
The anthropological research conducted in the area demonstrates that the recreated town, an open-air museum, not only provides a memorable day out and an enjoyable way to spend time, but is a place of much deeper meaning and spiritual significance. The physical presence of familiar buildings and familiar landscapes that have some personal meanings serves the purpose of continuum.
I will scrutinize the idea of the comfort that familiar places can create through experience and emotion and will look at the deeper level of spirituality related to an understanding of a sense of self constructed on the basis of leisure interaction with a familiar environment.
(Presented in the conference : 2017 Chulalongkorn Asian Heritage Forum : Culture of Leisure – Balance of Life, 7-8 August 2017, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand)