Marcal, Helia; (2023) Entangled ethics: heritage conservation, transmission and participation. In: Fekrsanati, Farideh and Schimmeroth, Gabriel, (eds.) From Conservation to Conversation. (pp. 131-139). MARKK (Museum am Rothenbaum Kulturen und Künste): Munich, Germany.

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Abstract

Transmissibility, or the ability of something to be transmitted from one organism or entity to another, is a characteristic that impacts how information and matter survive. In the case of epidemiology, it is one of the variables upon which the viruses and their variants are evaluated, and the risks for people are assessed. The more transmissible, the more risk these viruses and their variants pose. In the case of conservation, however, it can be a measure of resilience. The more transmissible a certain cultural heritage manifestation is, the more likely those manifestations are to survive and, therefore, the less is the risk for people and their cultural heritage. Similarly, with lower transmissibility comes the risk of losing some or all the aspects that make certain cultural manifestations ‘unique’ or ‘valued’. But how can conservation promote forms of transmission in a growingly complex world with systemic inequality and conflicting value systems? This paper argues for an entangled ethics of conservation, grounded on a commitment to recognise the inherent relationality of all conservation actions. In understanding relationality through a feminist new materialist lens, the paper will discuss the ways in which conservation and other heritage-making practices intra-act with several human and nonhuman agents while arguing that a sustainable transmission of heritage demands conservation ethics positioned towards radically committed, open, and inclusive forms of participation.

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