Macedonia, unesco, and intangible cultural heritage: : The challenging fate of teškoto

• Autores: Carol Silverman
• Localización: Journal of Folklore Research, ISSN-e 1543-0413, Vol. 52, Nº. 2-3, 2015, págs. 233-251
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Abstract In Macedonia debates about heritage are played out along the fault lines of ethnic and religious conflict as well as a faltering economy and threats from neighbors about interpretations of history. The country's 2002 and 2004 failed applications for a UNESCO Masterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage and its ongoing submissions of representative lists provide a valuable case study of how rural folklore symbols are selectively adopted into heritage discourse and elevated to iconic status. This essay analyzes Teškoto (the Heavy/Difficult Dance) as featured in two UNESCO Masterpiece applications as well as in village contexts, ensemble performances, an annual staged ritual, and tourist appropriations. The story of how Teškoto became a national symbol but failed to achieve UNESCO status as ICH illuminates the manner in which nationalist discourse shapes performance practices