Through various case studies, including the use of candlelight and energy-saving lightbulbs in Denmark, the book explores the integral role of light in social interactions and cultural practices. It examines how different lighting choices influence daily life, community dynamics, and environmental considerations, offering insights into the relationship between illumination and societal norms.
Life at a World Heritage Site in the Twenty-First Century
Exploring the complexities of identity, this book delves into the paradox faced by the Bedouin people of Petra, who were displaced due to UNESCO's heritage designation yet recognized for their rich oral traditions. It examines the implications of their resettlement amidst competing narratives of tourism, heritage preservation, and cultural revival. The work questions what it means to be Bedouin in a changing landscape where historical claims intersect with modern influences, shedding light on the tensions between cultural heritage and contemporary realities.
Focusing on the emotional connections between individuals and urban environments, this book delves into the atmospheric experiences in cities like Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm. Through ethnographic fieldwork, it examines how people interpret their feelings in these urban spaces, highlighting the interplay between human emotions and the physical surroundings. The exploration reveals the profound impact of atmosphere on daily life and social interactions in these Scandinavian cities.
Petra, Jordan became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, and the semi-nomadic Bedouin inhabiting the area were resettled as a consequence. The Bedouin themselves paradoxically became UNESCO Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2005 for the way in which their oral traditions and everyday lives relate to the landscape they no longer live in. Being Bedouin Around Petra asks: How could this happen? And what does it mean to be Bedouin when tourism, heritage protection, national discourse, an Islamic Revival and even New Age spiritualism lay competing claims to the past in the present?