Negotiating the Spirit of Place: Towards a Performative Authenticity of Historic Buildings

Abstract

This chapter is interested in exploring whether philosophical understandings of authenticity are applicable to Western conceptualisation of heritage, from physical sites (tangible) to social practices (intangible). In viewing heritage as a dynamic process, the author argues that the concept of genius loci (or spirit of place) is the most logical theoretical framework to accommodate these shifting understandings of authenticity and heritage. Moreover, by moving beyond anthropomorphised and material-centred themes and focussing instead on participation, locus and action, building conservation can explore the dynamics between materials and meanings in order to work towards a more performative interpretation of historic building authenticity

Citation

Djabarouti, J. (2022), "Negotiating the Spirit of Place: Towards a Performative Authenticity of Historic Buildings", Heřmanová, M., Skey, M. and Thurnell-Read, T. (Ed.) Cultures of Authenticity, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 29-42. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-936-220221003