Description: This seminar provides a social sciences perspective on locality studies in coastal communities, marine industries, and development. The course should be of use to any student in the social sciences interested in identity, sense of place, and cultural heritage, especially those working in communities that relied historically on natural resources. However, students are welcome with interests in environmental management and economic development focused on human-environment interactions. Since the seminar will look into community identity, sense of place, and cultural heritage and their relationship to the shore and sea, participants working in other environments and natural resource sectors may find these themes relevant in their work as well.
Course participants will be introduced to the selected anthropological and social science theories and concepts such as cultural heritage, identity, and sense of place that will help in examining and parsing the culture and meaning underlying local development strategies.
In recent years, demand has increased competition among users for finite marine resources. In response to this pressure, there has also been a movement to not only develop new economic opportunities, but also to become creative about the use of old ones, such as branding fish products and using traditional skills in new enterprises (e.g., whalers becoming whale watchers for tourism in the Azores).
This seminar will examine two common development strategies of coastal communities and their members:
1. New/old Marine economies: from traditional industries such as fishing and ship-building, to new ones such as seaweed harvesting, and offshore wind farms
2. Tourism / Cultural Heritage: Cultural heritage can include, for example, traditional coastal knowledge and skills, land/sea-scapes, and marine architecture. Such heritage is increasingly being used to increase tourism development in coastal areas.
Critical discussions of community, sense of place and cultural heritage will take place in light of changes to coastal communities today, seen through the two case studies and with the knowledge that different micro-cultures and groups will often have differing views on what is best for their own community.
Prerequisites: approved 2 month PhD study plan
Learning objectives: Developing the understanding, skills and competencies needed to prepare for and think about theories and methodologies that support analyses of community and development. Learning outcomes will focus on particular research theories within particular traditions and 'schools of thought' especially those that embrace and have implications for not only cultural analysis, but also natural resource management. The course will introduce students to the concept of cultural heritage and how it “works” in the world today. The second objective is to critically examine the theories and methods that shape efforts to use cultural heritage, sense of place, and identities today and how these impact contemporary coastal societies.
Teaching methods: This course is designed as a seminar whereby participants shall reflect on different literature, relate the texts and presentations to their own research and experience, and actively participate in discussions.
Teaching methods will include working in smaller groups to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of case study strategies for development.
Guest lectures will include Dr. Katia Frangoudes (U. Brest, France) and Henrik Halkier, Department of Global and Cultural Studies (AAU).
Criteria for assessment: Participants who wish to receive 5 ECTS points shall submit a 10 page (single spaced) paper 3 weeks following the close of the course. The topic is to be developed with the instructor and related closely to the themes of the course.
Tentative Proposed Key literature:
Arnold, B. “The Contested Past.” Anthropology Today 15 (1999): 1-4.
RIGHT THIS WAY: TOURISM AND PRESENTING CULTURAL HERITAGE TO THE PUBLIC
Low, S.M. “Social Sustainability: People, History, and Values,” in Managing Change: Sustainable Approaches to the Conservation of the Built Environment, p. 47-64.
Massey, Doreen. 1993. “Questions of Locality” Geography vol 78, no. 2
Massey, D. 1994. Space, Place, and Gender. 280pp. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Nadel-Klein, J. 2003. Fishing for Heritage: Modernity and Loss along the Scottish Coast. New York: Berg Press.
Singh, Timothy, and Dowling. 1993. Tourism in Destination Communities. Oxford: CABI International.
Timothy, D.J., “Introduction,” in Managing Heritage and Cultural Tourism Resources. Critical Essays, Vol. I. p. xi-xxv.
Williams, Ruth. N.d. “Fishing Identities in ‘New Times’: Experiences from Northeast Scotland.
Organizer: Alyne Delaney
Lecturers: Alyne Delaney
ECTS: 2,5 with paper
Time: 27 May 09.00-17.99 and 28 May 09.00-16.00
Place: Aalborg University, Skibbrogade 5, room Skb5 b1/18
Zip code: 9000
City: Aalborg
Number of seats: 15
Deadline: 6 May, 2014
- Teacher: Alyne Delaney