Step 4 of 4

Cultural context and cultural heritage

Spit bowls marketed as fruit baskets

Related Images

  • Fig. 1. Screenshots of Amazon listings from urinals marketed in different ways
  • Fig. 2. Antique Chinese Ming Design Water Holder 19Th C. Or Earlier - Xupes - [Source](https://www.xupes.com/art/product-details/9756/antique-chinese-ming-design-water-holder-19th-c-or-earlier/antique-chinese-ming-design-water-holder-19th-c-or-earlier.html)
  • Fig. 3. Buddha head as decoration - Karolina Grabowska
  • Fig. 4. A Native American headdress used as an accessory during Chanel’s “Metiers d’Art” Show - Tony Gutierrez/AP
  • Fig. 5. A Hawaiian feather lei used in the collection of Proenza Schouler during NYFW Show - Jonas Gustavsson

Globalization Globalization is the process of interconnectedness of people, institutions and companies. has made it easier for us to come in contact with cultural heritage.Cultural heritage is the legacy of the ways of living by a community. When the cultural context behind an object is unknown, we tend to try to fill in the gap, just like the people around me did with the urinal and like the online sellers do in figures 1 and 2.

This becomes a problem when it happens to cultural artifactsEverything that humans have created and can provide information about the culture of its creator and users, are considered cultural artifacts. that are considered sacred in certain cultures. You might have seen Buddha heads sold as decoration, Native American headdresses used as accessories or Hawaiian feather Lei “modernized” and then sold for 1500 dollars. (Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5) These are examples of commodification: turning something into a product for today’s commercial purposes. This process is one of the consequences of globalization and has a negative effect on cultural heritage. By selling things from other cultures without knowing the full context, we can harm communities economically, culturally or even spiritually.

In contemporary society we are used to utilizing objects as we please. However, as long as there are people who give meaning to these objects, is it proper to turn a blind eye to this?