Abstract
Monetary valuations of cultural artefacts are becoming increasingly frequent in the twenty-first century, leading to the advent of culture and heritage as commercial commodities. Debates rage over the ethics of charging admission to museums and the cost of membership to heritage organizations. Cultural representations in print and on the media generate economic profit. Ecotourism ventures to sites such as the RMS Titanic and the recent suggestion of floating the Terracotta Army on the stock market are all indicators of the increasing economic emphasis in the management of cultural resources. This chapter is an attempt to focus on some of the economic issues surrounding the presentation and management of cultural heritage resources and the role of the anthropologist in the privatization of culture and heritage. It considers the issue of ‘ownership’ within heritage and questions the methods and circumstances of economic valuation of cultural resources.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Atkinson Wells, P. (1994) ‘The Marketing of Tradition: A New Approach’, Folklore in Use, 2, 53–5.
Bell, B. (2003) ‘Iceman Discoverer Claims Reward’, BBC News Online (http://www.bbc.co.uk) 22 December.
Gill-Robinson, H. (2004) ‘Bog Bodies on Display’, Journal of Wetland Archaeology, 4, 111–16.
Gittings, J. (2002) ‘China’s Clay Army in New Battle’, Guardian online (http://www.guardian.co.uk) 17 January.
Grandell, T. (2004) ‘Michigan Company Accused of Selling Viking Artefacts on Web Site’ (http://www.thestate.com) 13 May.
Gratton, C. and Richards, G. (1996) ‘The Economic Context of Cultural Tourism’ in G. Richards (ed.), Cultural Tourism in Europe ( Wallingford, UK: CAB International ).
Handwerk, B. (2002) ‘Retrieval of “Titanic” Artefacts Stirs Controversy’ (http://www.nationalgeographic.com) 12 April.
Johnston, B. (2002) ‘Fancy Tiberius’s Villa? Italy is Set to Sell its Heritage’, Daily Telegraph online (http://www.dailyte1egraph.co.uk) 23 August.
Kroshus Medina, L. (2003) ‘Commoditizing Culture: Tourism and Maya Identity’, Annals of Tourism Research, 30, 353–68.
Laws, E. (1998) ‘Conceptualizing Visitor Satisfaction Management in Heritage Settings: An Exploratory Blueprinting Analysis of Leeds Castle, Kent’, Tourism Management, 19, 545–54.
Lorenzi, R. (2004) ‘Tourists to Look for Ancient Persian Army’, Discovery Channel online (http://www.dsc.discovery.com/news)12 February.
Morales Cano, L. and Mysyk, A. (2004) ‘Cultural Tourism, the State, and Day of the Dead’, Annals of Tourism Research, 31, 879–98.
Palmer, C. (1999) ‘Tourism and Symbols of Identity’, Tourism Management, 20, 313–21.
Quinn, R. M. (2001)’Kamutx00A9;: Ancient Grain, New Cereal’ (http://www.hort.purdue.edunewcrop/proceedings1999/v4-182.html).
Robinson, M. (1999) ‘Cultural Conflicts in Tourism: Inevitability and Inequality’ in M. Robinson and P. Boniface (eds), Tourism and Cultural Conflicts ( Wallingford, UK: CAB International ).
Simpson, M. (1997) Museums and Repatriation ( London: The Museums Association).
Whittaker, E. (1999) ‘Indigenous Tourism: Reclaiming Knowledge, Culture and Intellectual Property in Australia’ in M. Robinson and P. Boniface (eds), Tourism and Cultural Conflicts ( Wallingford, UK: CAB International ).
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2007 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gill-Robinson, H. (2007). Culture, Heritage and Commodification. In: Kockel, U., Craith, M.N. (eds) Cultural Heritages as Reflexive Traditions. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230285941_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230285941_12
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-54637-4
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-28594-1
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)