Fictions for understanding heritage

Review of "The cult of memory" by Ignacio González-Varas Ibáñez. Ética y estética Madrid: Ediciones Cátedra, 2023

Abstract

The book under review analyses the crucial role of memory in the conceptualisation of cultural heritage, highlighting its relevance in the current social and cultural context. The author, González-Varas, delves into how memory influences the significance of heritage, especially in an age where the participatory and social become more important. Taking a critical and reflective approach, the text explores the interaction between the historical and the cultural, the impact of the Holocaust on collective memory, and the influence of art on heritage conservation. Memory is presented as a dynamic and selective concept that filters our understanding of the past, approaching its interpretation as a creative and fictional act. It highlights the need to build bridges between science and the social in order to achieve a deeper understanding of heritage, approaching science as a projective process in search of truth. The text also introduces the notion of fiction in heritage interpretation, using hermeneutics to understand how memory, time and authenticity can redefine the contemporary heritage scene.