[Lecture Topic] Rethinking Heritage

We live in an era where heritage is ubiquitous. Globally, the number of museums, collections, national parks, and heritage sites is skyrocketing. The same is true in China, where some call it a heritage "fever." But how did heritage evolve from a niche topic focused on by a few enthusiasts and academic professionals into a cultural phenomenon cherished by the entire nation? Why has heritage become such a widespread cultural phenomenon? What theoretical concepts and research methods do we need to understand this global trend? This lecture aims to provide a macro-level introduction to the discipline of critical heritage studies and explore the significant importance of analyzing and re-examining the connotation, essence, and social function of heritage from a critical perspective.

Lecture Information

【Lecture Topic】Rethinking Heritage

【Lecture Time】Monday, July 6, 2026, 10:00-12:00

【Lecture Location】Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Auditorium, Sipailou Campus, Southeast University

【Speaker】Rodney Harrison, Professor of Heritage Studies, School of Archaeology, University College London, Fellow of the Antiquities Society, and one of the world's leading scholars in comparative natural and cultural heritage and museum studies

【Moderator】Lu Wenchao, Vice Dean, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor, School of Arts, Southeast University

【Discussant】Fang Lili, Distinguished Professor, Director of the Institute of Art Anthropology and Sociology, Southeast University, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor