Memory, tradition, and heritage : a few remarks on metacultural regional practices

Regional cultures have undergone intense cultural changes over recent decades. The predominant change was the transition from "tradition", or a primary modelling system with an unreflective and emotive affirmation of the local culture, to "heritage" or a secondary modelling system with a reflective and selective approach to the culture. Some experts and culture animators have rejected this distinction, leading to the erroneous mixing of tradition and heritage. Consequently, regional cultures are perceived to be based on their past quasi-museum shape with imposed, canonical, and reconstructed-only forms. They are also denied authenticity and an emotive, axiological significance in shaping the contemporary regional identities. This approach views a region's heritage only as a theatrical scene, or a repository of "dead" forms. However, heritage is a "living" form, which evokes strong emotions and engagement and stimulates new forms of art and social activity. Contrary to tradition, heritage has lost its sanctifying attitude towards the cultural past in favour of a selective, aestheticized attitude; however, like tradition, it provides a strongly emotive inspiration for grassroot culture-forming processes and the development of cultural identity.