The idea of cultural heritage is a tricky one. At its most basic, it is an extremely important and positive part of society. Indigenous cultures of any geographic location share the same qualities of communal values and an ecological mindset. Literally every primitive human culture developed a distinct shamanistic spiritual sphere based around both professional and lay practitioners alike that have in-depth knowledge of their people's culture and mythology.
Sadly, cultural heritage has been largely appropriated by nationalists. What began as shared traditions based around unique and autonomous communities has been institutionalized. Having just ended another holiday consumptive cycle, Christmas is a perfect example of this. I could talk for a long time about why I hate Christmas so much and you probably know what im going to say anyway, so ill condense it into one short sentence: it is a holiday based on materialism. I don't care if you think that it is actually about family or love or Christ or whatever, the main focus of it has been consumption for a long time. And for those who rather would spend the day in church or some alternative way of celebrating from the standard tree-sacrifice gift-ritual the social pressure from the dominant culture is tremendous. So tremendous that it has spread far beyond its original home in white Western European Christian culture. Now Hanukkah, which had traditionally had never been a gift giving holiday, has basically become the Jewish analogue to Christmas. It is probably the only Jewish holiday most Americans know anything about and it isn't even a High Holiday.
When culture is institutionalized like that it becomes something totally different. It becomes "national identity". Nothing disgusts me more than it.
The novels 1984 and Feed depict a future where heritage has been completely washed away by the cultural hegemony. In 1984 society has been stripped down to its most bare, utilitarian functions leaving no room for cultural heritage. The power of culture to create affinities that lie outside of, and contrary to, state power can be compared to the sexual, romantic, or familial bonds that The Party also despises.
Feed shows a culture that had become so ridiculously capitalistic and industrialist that culture has become a commodity and nothing more. In this way culture loses its deeper emotional meanings. So basically everything is like Christmas.
Handmaid's Tale shows an America where the cultural heritage of Christianity and even some elements of European paganism have been co-opted by the state and used to form an extremely powerful national identity based on white supremacy and patriarchy. This is much more realistic than 1984 or feed, because why would an empire reject culture if it can instead make it into an immensely powerful tool of social control?
Cultural hegemony doesn't just affect traditions and oral history or less tangible concepts like morality, but it is just as important to look at actual geographic locations. Nationalists love to strip monuments and historical sights of their original histories and meanings so that they can turn them into bland patriotic symbols.
Stonehenge is an example of the kind of alienated state "protection" of "national treasures" (vomit) that I hate. I saw it a couple months ago and was very disappointed. The whole thing is roped off and the closest you ever actually get to it is like 50 feet! It should be treated like a living part of cultural heritage (and even worship) rather than something to be viewed and analyzed from a distance. When people can't have an actual connection with the site itself and cant communally value it as a LIVING site, what is it really besides a big pile of old rocks? Its like the difference between looking at the Dome of The Rock at a distance and actually taking part in a procession around it.
Sadly, cultural heritage has been largely appropriated by nationalists. What began as shared traditions based around unique and autonomous communities has been institutionalized. Having just ended another holiday consumptive cycle, Christmas is a perfect example of this. I could talk for a long time about why I hate Christmas so much and you probably know what im going to say anyway, so ill condense it into one short sentence: it is a holiday based on materialism. I don't care if you think that it is actually about family or love or Christ or whatever, the main focus of it has been consumption for a long time. And for those who rather would spend the day in church or some alternative way of celebrating from the standard tree-sacrifice gift-ritual the social pressure from the dominant culture is tremendous. So tremendous that it has spread far beyond its original home in white Western European Christian culture. Now Hanukkah, which had traditionally had never been a gift giving holiday, has basically become the Jewish analogue to Christmas. It is probably the only Jewish holiday most Americans know anything about and it isn't even a High Holiday.
When culture is institutionalized like that it becomes something totally different. It becomes "national identity". Nothing disgusts me more than it.
The novels 1984 and Feed depict a future where heritage has been completely washed away by the cultural hegemony. In 1984 society has been stripped down to its most bare, utilitarian functions leaving no room for cultural heritage. The power of culture to create affinities that lie outside of, and contrary to, state power can be compared to the sexual, romantic, or familial bonds that The Party also despises.
Feed shows a culture that had become so ridiculously capitalistic and industrialist that culture has become a commodity and nothing more. In this way culture loses its deeper emotional meanings. So basically everything is like Christmas.
Handmaid's Tale shows an America where the cultural heritage of Christianity and even some elements of European paganism have been co-opted by the state and used to form an extremely powerful national identity based on white supremacy and patriarchy. This is much more realistic than 1984 or feed, because why would an empire reject culture if it can instead make it into an immensely powerful tool of social control?
Cultural hegemony doesn't just affect traditions and oral history or less tangible concepts like morality, but it is just as important to look at actual geographic locations. Nationalists love to strip monuments and historical sights of their original histories and meanings so that they can turn them into bland patriotic symbols.
Stonehenge is an example of the kind of alienated state "protection" of "national treasures" (vomit) that I hate. I saw it a couple months ago and was very disappointed. The whole thing is roped off and the closest you ever actually get to it is like 50 feet! It should be treated like a living part of cultural heritage (and even worship) rather than something to be viewed and analyzed from a distance. When people can't have an actual connection with the site itself and cant communally value it as a LIVING site, what is it really besides a big pile of old rocks? Its like the difference between looking at the Dome of The Rock at a distance and actually taking part in a procession around it.
This is a very interesting topic that I have never really thought of before, thanks for bringing it up!
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