Emotional Heritage: a theoretical investigation and it's vulnerable nature

Abstract

Heritage serves as the foundation of human identity, encapsulating the values, traditions, and artifacts that define civilizations across generations. It not only shapes our understanding of history but also influences contemporary power structures and social interventions. Graeber and Wengrow critically examine the historical evolution of societal organization, arguing that hierarchy, domination, and self-interest have historically structured human societies. However, they contend that collective learning has led societies to regulate these tendencies, channeling them into legally defined domains such as the economy while restricting them elsewhere.

This exclusionary framework fosters the construction of identity through self-imposed limitations, shaping individual and collective narratives within the historical continuum. The relationship between identity and heritage is fluid, as emotions mediate the association and disassociation of individuals from historical hierarchies. Kingston underscores this fluidity by challenging rigid distinctions between "historic" and "unhistoric" groups, instead proposing a continuous spectrum of historical interaction.

Despite this dynamic interplay, heritage studies have often overlooked the role of individual interactions in shaping historical consciousness. Lipp and Krempel illustrate this in the context of petitions during the Revolution, emphasizing their reliance on social networks, cultural organizations, and long-term ideological formations. These pre-revolutionary discussions fostered a collective understanding that ultimately influenced political action.

This article critically examines heritage through the lens of emotional engagement, cultural dilemmas.