European Cultures and Societies
1.1: Unity and Diversity of European Culture
European Union: “Unity in diversity, diversity within unity”
- What does it mean for culture and its heritage?
o EU is proud of its diversity
o No possibility to modernize it (not even prepared for this)
o Common identity (backgrounds, roots) that causes unity of it all
- Comparison between national identity and European identity
- 19th c: Idea of homogeneity (one culture) was in spirit of modernity ensured (national
society should be homogenous, diversity was necessary evil before unity would be
achieved)
o Existence of minorities was negative
development of our direction:
- Diversity is positive now (people have right to be different)
- Enforcing unity is not justified now
- Unity within diversity, diversity within unity
o United, but also accept and celebrate differences
Elements from EU history are mentioned:
5 most common mentioned pillars of EU common heritage (foundation of EU identity)
- Greek philosophy
o Accepted as common root
o Great Greek philosophers asked questions which became foundation of Eu
philosophy (epistemological q, ethical q, anthropological q, societal q)
o Good decisions result from wisdom
o Principles such as: Knowledge is good for practical purposes and for his own
sake (curiosity) we should invest in it
o Architectural style (symmetry, harmony, moderation)
o Realistic art
- Roman law (& its legal philosophy)
o Not guilty until proven
o Norms
o Laws and ignorance (laws now say what can be done and cannot duty of
citizen to be familiar with law)
- Christianity
, o Controversial: mentioned that it should be considered essence of European
identity, but also a boundary (only Christians are truly European, Europe is
Christian)
is it? In order to understand European history, art, … you have to be
familiar with European heritage
o European shouldn’t be Christian, but they have to understand Christianity
o Concept of good/bad will
o Christian by its very essence? destructive statement (illusion under
nowadays reality)
o Christianity itself is example of unity and diversity (one religion, but different
sub-religions because of the way they answer certain questions)
- Renaissance
o Period of positive change
o Art, humanism, literature
o Value: individual creativity (appreciated)
Persons: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo (great personality, individuality)
Constitutes one of most important foundations of European civilizations
o Controversial:
Rationality
Idea of progress: objective leading to a scientifical defined
society
Liberal ideas
Freedom & equality (no more hierarchy)
Religion:
Belief in God as creator of universe, not one that intervenes in
our affairs
Separation of church and state (secularism)
- Enlightenment
o Greatest achievement of civilization beginning of modern Europe
o Distinction between:
Individualism
Right of people to be different
Individuals should behave and be regulated by community
principles
Individual choices are limited
Post-enlightenment it became one of key values
Freedom of belonging, freedom of identity forming
Collectivism:
, Family, nation, minorities (seen as community w/ a heritage)
Exclusive & selective
a lot of conflicts in Europe are about factors in this distinction
debate on European norms (HR) – liberalism v conservatism
Unity & diversity:
- Great achievements
- Gothic: UNITY, but DIVERSITY (various types)
- Jesuits: UNITY (monastic order), but DIVERSITY
Question of modernity and postmodernity:
- How to identify this movement?
- Contribution to unity of EU?
YES, because based on common principle (freedom of interpretation, individuality,
liberal values, …)
- Not uniform (collectivistic interpretation of democracy = unity, but different aspects)
We don’t expect people to think alike or be the same, but there are some common
ideas
, 1.2: Introducing the concept of European heritage
1. Heritage
Heritage:
- Used to be just substance
- Now: many different disciplines (that deal with the past)
- Allows thinking about the past:
o ! Not all the past is heritage It is a choice, a selection of elements
taking in consideration the needs we got now looking at the future about
things from the past
o UNESCO
2. Traditi on
- Transmission
- What is transmitted, can be:
o Tangible (e.g. objects)
o Intangible (e.g. language)
- Attitude toward the remnants of the past
3. Ownership of heritage
Always belongs to someone because choice of acceptance
Reappropriation: keeps existing (not afraid of own dramatic past)
Truth of history and patrimonial true: More about experience of the past and not about the
historical truths
4. Why do societi es have heritages?
Defining “us”
Inclusion and exclusion of people
5. New dimensions of heritage
Factor of economic growth (commercial product – touristification – experts for heritage)
6. From historical monument to heritage
How does something become a historical monument?
- Chronological
1.1: Unity and Diversity of European Culture
European Union: “Unity in diversity, diversity within unity”
- What does it mean for culture and its heritage?
o EU is proud of its diversity
o No possibility to modernize it (not even prepared for this)
o Common identity (backgrounds, roots) that causes unity of it all
- Comparison between national identity and European identity
- 19th c: Idea of homogeneity (one culture) was in spirit of modernity ensured (national
society should be homogenous, diversity was necessary evil before unity would be
achieved)
o Existence of minorities was negative
development of our direction:
- Diversity is positive now (people have right to be different)
- Enforcing unity is not justified now
- Unity within diversity, diversity within unity
o United, but also accept and celebrate differences
Elements from EU history are mentioned:
5 most common mentioned pillars of EU common heritage (foundation of EU identity)
- Greek philosophy
o Accepted as common root
o Great Greek philosophers asked questions which became foundation of Eu
philosophy (epistemological q, ethical q, anthropological q, societal q)
o Good decisions result from wisdom
o Principles such as: Knowledge is good for practical purposes and for his own
sake (curiosity) we should invest in it
o Architectural style (symmetry, harmony, moderation)
o Realistic art
- Roman law (& its legal philosophy)
o Not guilty until proven
o Norms
o Laws and ignorance (laws now say what can be done and cannot duty of
citizen to be familiar with law)
- Christianity
, o Controversial: mentioned that it should be considered essence of European
identity, but also a boundary (only Christians are truly European, Europe is
Christian)
is it? In order to understand European history, art, … you have to be
familiar with European heritage
o European shouldn’t be Christian, but they have to understand Christianity
o Concept of good/bad will
o Christian by its very essence? destructive statement (illusion under
nowadays reality)
o Christianity itself is example of unity and diversity (one religion, but different
sub-religions because of the way they answer certain questions)
- Renaissance
o Period of positive change
o Art, humanism, literature
o Value: individual creativity (appreciated)
Persons: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo (great personality, individuality)
Constitutes one of most important foundations of European civilizations
o Controversial:
Rationality
Idea of progress: objective leading to a scientifical defined
society
Liberal ideas
Freedom & equality (no more hierarchy)
Religion:
Belief in God as creator of universe, not one that intervenes in
our affairs
Separation of church and state (secularism)
- Enlightenment
o Greatest achievement of civilization beginning of modern Europe
o Distinction between:
Individualism
Right of people to be different
Individuals should behave and be regulated by community
principles
Individual choices are limited
Post-enlightenment it became one of key values
Freedom of belonging, freedom of identity forming
Collectivism:
, Family, nation, minorities (seen as community w/ a heritage)
Exclusive & selective
a lot of conflicts in Europe are about factors in this distinction
debate on European norms (HR) – liberalism v conservatism
Unity & diversity:
- Great achievements
- Gothic: UNITY, but DIVERSITY (various types)
- Jesuits: UNITY (monastic order), but DIVERSITY
Question of modernity and postmodernity:
- How to identify this movement?
- Contribution to unity of EU?
YES, because based on common principle (freedom of interpretation, individuality,
liberal values, …)
- Not uniform (collectivistic interpretation of democracy = unity, but different aspects)
We don’t expect people to think alike or be the same, but there are some common
ideas
, 1.2: Introducing the concept of European heritage
1. Heritage
Heritage:
- Used to be just substance
- Now: many different disciplines (that deal with the past)
- Allows thinking about the past:
o ! Not all the past is heritage It is a choice, a selection of elements
taking in consideration the needs we got now looking at the future about
things from the past
o UNESCO
2. Traditi on
- Transmission
- What is transmitted, can be:
o Tangible (e.g. objects)
o Intangible (e.g. language)
- Attitude toward the remnants of the past
3. Ownership of heritage
Always belongs to someone because choice of acceptance
Reappropriation: keeps existing (not afraid of own dramatic past)
Truth of history and patrimonial true: More about experience of the past and not about the
historical truths
4. Why do societi es have heritages?
Defining “us”
Inclusion and exclusion of people
5. New dimensions of heritage
Factor of economic growth (commercial product – touristification – experts for heritage)
6. From historical monument to heritage
How does something become a historical monument?
- Chronological
