The Representation of the Past: Museums and Heritage in the Postmodern World

The 1980s and early 1990s have witnessed a marked boom in the museum and heritage industry. Public interest in our historic environment is growing and this new awareness has been met by a major increase in the commercialization of the past. "The Representation of the Past" examines this developing trend and reaches some disturbing conclusions. Fundamental to Kevin Walsh's argument is the belief that the process of modernization has gradually served to distance people from their own heritage. Examining the heritage industries of a number of countries including Britain and the USA, the author asserts that museums should shoulder at least some of the blame for a superficial, unquestioning portrayal of the past which ultimately separates people from an understanding of their economic, political and cultural present. In the end, Walsh argues, the role of the museum is to facilitate our comprehension of cultural identity. The key to future representation of the past lies in enabling people to come to terms with their own heritage. This book should be of interest to undergraduates, postgraduates, academics and professionals in the fields of archaeology, history, communication and museum studies.