Document type: Report and analysis
Abstract: This paper questions the configurations in which European cultural policies attribute values to culture. It begins with a reflection on the meaning of value, then goes on to identify, through the analysis of a corpus of scientific articles, books and research reports as well as press articles, the numerous values identifiable in the history of cultural policies. We propose a principle of classification into 5 major families of values: democracy, identity, well-being, aesthetics and economy. Finally, we describe the dynamics of emergence and transformation of the values attributed to culture in historical configurations, through 3 examples: the valuation of heritage, the conflicts over the values of democracy, and the values underpinning the concept of sustainable development. Our exploratory research shows that values already present in the 20th century are becoming increasingly important in cultural policies, without taking precedence over values with which they can compete or, on the contrary, find a form of compatibility.
Description: The report questions the configurations in which European cultural policies attribute values to culture. It begins with a reflection on the meaning of value, then goes on to identify the numerous values identifiable in the history of cultural policies. A principle of classification into 5 major families of values is proposed: democracy, identity, well-being, aesthetics and economy. Finally, the report describes the dynamics of emergence and transformation of the values attributed to culture in historical configurations, through 3 examples: the valuation of heritage, the conflicts over the values of democracy, and the values underpinning the concept of sustainable development.
Year of publication: 2020
Author: Claire Dedieu, Félix Dupin-Meynard, Eszter György, Emmanuel Négrier, Gábor Oláh, Gábor Sonkoly
Owner: UNCHARTED Consortium
Type of owner: EU-funded project
Keywords: Values of culture, European cultural policies, Democracy, Identity, Well-being, Aesthetics, Economy, Sustainable development, UNCHARTED project
Application sectors:
Cultural diplomacy and policy