The essential importance of intangible heritage as a core part of human understanding is being increasingly recognised both nationally and internationally. In 2003 UNESCO passed the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage and in so doing explicitly acknowledged the value of forms of cultural knowledge such as performance, song, storytelling and dance, and the practices that underpin tangible artistic outcomes. This course surveys key conventions and associated operational guidelines alongside questions of cultural politics, human rights, ownership and copyright. It explores the role of the museum and digital technology in safeguarding and curating intangible heritage. It also frames intangible heritage as a valuable concept for rethinking heritage as a cultural process in which the relationship between the tangible and intangible are renegotiated. Students are asked to consider intangible heritage in relation to key concepts including affect, identity, performativity, temporality, place, and memory. In so doing they will develop a sophisticated and well-informed approach to heritage work which considers the intangible alongside the material. In addition to Heritage and Museum Studies, this course may be of interest to student in history, anthropology, digital humanities and the performing arts.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the main critical issues concerning intangible heritage in written and oral forms;
2. critically assess the policies, guidelines and procedures related to assessing and safeguarding intangible heritage;
3. identify examples of intangible heritage and develop projects through the application of relevant analytical tools and assessment procedures; and
4. analyse the role of intangible heritage in different contexts.

Research-Led Teaching

The essential importance of intangible heritage as a core part of human understanding is being increasingly recognised both nationally and internationally. In 2003 UNESCO passed the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage and in so doing explicitly acknowledged the value of forms of cultural knowledge such as performance, song, storytelling and dance, and the practices that underpin tangible artistic outcomes. This course surveys key conventions and associated operational guidelines alongside questions of cultural politics, human rights, ownership and copyright. It explores the role of the museum and digital technology in safeguarding and curating intangible heritage. It also frames intangible heritage as a valuable concept for rethinking heritage as a cultural process in which the relationship between the tangible and intangible are renegotiated. Students are asked to consider intangible heritage in relation to key concepts including affect, identity, performativity, temporality, place, and memory. In so doing they will develop a sophisticated and well-informed approach to heritage work which considers the intangible alongside the material. In addition to Heritage and Museum Studies, this course may be of interest to student in history, anthropology, digital humanities and the performing arts.

Field Trips

This course will include a field trip to a local museum to assess the ways that intangible heritage is being used. Specifics of these trips will be advised in advance.

Additional Course Costs

Students should note that visits to the cultural institutions may incur some minimal travel expenses.

Recommended Resources

Laurajane Smith and Natsuko Akagawa (eds), Intangible Heritage (New York: Routledge, 2009).

Michelle L. Stefano, Peter Davis and Gerarad Corsane (eds), Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2012).

Valdimir Hafstein, Making Intangible Heritage (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2018).

Natsuko Akagawa and Laurajane Smith (eds), Safeguarding Intangible Heritage: Practices and Politics (New York: Routledge, 2019).

Charlotte Waelde, Catherine Cummings, Mathilde Pavis and Helena Enright (eds), Research Handbook on Contemporary Intangible Cultural Heritage: Law and Heritage (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Pub., 2018).

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction: history and definitions	Seminar discussion exercise
2	UNESCO, Convention and ICH	Seminar discussion exercise
3	Global and Local: ICH Politics	Seminar discussion exercise
4	ICH, UNESCO facilitation and the mitigation of natural disaster	Seminar discussion exercise
5	Memory of the World	Seminar discussion exercise
6	Intangible heritage and festivals	Seminar discussion exercise,short essay and assessment project
7	IP Australia on the practical recognition of ICIP	Seminar discussion exercise
8	ICH in museums	Tour
9	ICH in China	Seminar discussion exercise
10	Reuse and remix: culture and tradition in Vanuatu	Seminar discussion exercise
11	Oral history and ICH	Seminar discussion exercise
12	Sum up and reflections	Final essay

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Seminar discussion exercise	10 %	*	*	1,4
Short Essay	15 %	19/09/2021	01/10/2021	1,4
UNESCO ICHC assessment project	25 %	19/09/2021	01/10/2021	1,4
Research essay	50 %	09/11/2021	23/11/2021	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Participation is compulsory and students are expected to do, as a minimum, the required readings for each seminar and to come to class prepared to discuss the set topic.

Assessment Task 1

Seminar discussion exercise

Choose a weekly seminar topic and give a 5-10 minute presentation which summarises and critically analyses the major points and issues presented in the set readings. Students must then initiate and facilitate discussion on the set topic.

Assessment Task 2

Short Essay

The seminar paper will consist of a short reflective essay on the student’s chosen seminar topic for which they were lead discussant that presents the main ideas and issues of the set readings. The students are encouraged to read around the topic for context.

Assessment Task 3

UNESCO ICHC assessment project

Choose two elements from the Lists of Intangible Culture Heritage and Register (eg two files from the Representative List, or two files from the Urgent Safeguarding List, OR one of each) and produce a detailed comparative analysis that examines and compares the nomination forms and additional related material (audiovisual as well as documentary) against the criteria as set out by UNESCO in the principles and guidelines of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Additional relevant source material can be drawn upon for this study.

Assessment Task 4

Research essay

Produce a 3000-word research essay that based upon independent research that provides a critical and in-depth examination of one or more of the key topics explored during the course (n.b. reference lists do not count towards the word count). The essay should be framed by and engage closely with recent scholarly work and debates in the relevant area. The bibliography should comprise 10 to 15 relevant references. The research question should be finalized in consultation with the course convenor.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students