Analysis - Historic Preservation: Collective Memory and Historical Identity
This book examines the progression of historic preservation in both the United States and Britain. Through a comparison of the preservation in both countries Barthel addresses the issues and development regarding preservation in these two countries.
The book outlines the motivation for preservation, a brief history of the progression of preservation in the US and Britain, as well as some of the differences between the two countries. Barthel also examines the different interpretations of history and who has been doing the interpreting and preserving (such as the major capitalists and industrialists, women, or concerned community members, the bottom-up approach of the US and the top-down approach in Britain). She also discusses the ideologies behind preservation, the preservation efforts in regards to memorializing wars, and the role historic preservation plays in consumer-driven countries, globalized societies, as well as in societies that have a growing leisure role. Another issue discussed is the authenticity of interpretations, and the balance between entertainment and education. It is clear that Barthel covers several facets of the preservation movement as well as several of the issues they face.
One of the more important aspects of historic preservation that Barthel stresses (and one that I found particularly interesting) is the role it plays in society, the role society plays in preservation and how this affects society's collective memory. Barthel argues that historic preservation is a means by which a society can come together, embrace their diversity and plurality, and yet, through preservation, attempt to create a collective memory and establish their own historical identity. She emphasizes everyone's involvement in creating and establishing our own interpretation of history, and it seems that this idea is repeated throughout her book. Everyone, in her opinion, has a say in this "tangible" history.
Overall I thought Barthel did a good job of presenting a wide range of issues. However, one problem I had with this book was how outdated it seemed at times. In terms of how this book could be improved, I would suggest adding an afterword. I noticed that the book was published in 1996, and since then there have been some pretty significant changes in the field of historic preservation. For instance, the chapter discussing utopia and the perfect communities that manifest themselves in living history sites (or as Barthel calls it "staged symbolic communities") mentioned Colonial Williamsburg and the lack of conflict. Since this book was published there has been a significant effort to include a slave narrative into the living history interpretation. For example, the mid 1990s saw an introduction of a controversial slave market in Colonial Williamsburg. This is just one instance where these historic sites and communities have made an effort to incorporate more historically accurate events and happenings in their exhibitions and interpretations.
3 comments:
I agree with your comment about adding an afterword. Along with the inclusion of more historically accurate elements in living history communities, I want to know more about recent issues and developments in this field. I would like to know the state of the preservation movement in more recent terms in order to really understand how this field has grown and developed. I found it interesting that this book was written by a sociologist and not a historian, which is why I think her discussion on society's role in historic preservation is stressed and given as much importance an she does. I think that her background in sociology lends itself well to the issue of historic preservation and agree that she did a good job of presenting the history of the preservation movement and the issues that have been confronted.
I thought that Barthel's discussion of historic preservation as a contribution to collective memory was her most interesting and insightful argument. While preservation projects do provide evidence of the past, there is also the fact that preservationists may be creating their own historical narrative. In a sense, preservationists seem to have the power to influence how history is interpreted, even creating their own cultural and national hegemony. Barthel proves this point with her discussion of preservation efforts in Britain, and how preservationists are focusing on saving country houses, or sites that resemble the romantic Medieval age. By narrowing the scope of history only to a certain period, it may seem that preservationists in Britain are influencing how history is perceived there. Although Britain may be practicing an elitist form of preservation, the public still has the ability to interpret buildings and sites in their own way. In the end, argues Barthel, the people have the power to say "no" to preserving certain buildings. Historic preservation is truly a useful tool in saving and emphasizing collective memory that is not just influenced by preservationists, but the public as well.
I agree with you that the book was a little dated without the addition of an afterword. I'd be especially interested in what she'd have to say about many cities' fights to revitalize their downtown areas. I know my undergraduate city, Macon had a HUGE push to get more people in the downtown area. As a side note, I love how the newly developed malls often more resemble a downtown than a mall. It's like a subdivision called "Pebble Brook" that no longer has a brook. It replicates that which it destroyed.
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