Heritage Conference Recommends Enhancing Travel Literature Studies And Documentation

The "Second Heritage Conference," organised by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, was held at the Arab Heritage Centre in Sharjah's university city. The event, themed "Popular Heritage Through the Eyes of Others," resulted in several scientific and cultural recommendations aimed at advancing studies on travel literature and the depiction of the "other" in popular heritage.

Participants highlighted the importance of reexamining traveller and Orientalist writings using modern scientific criticism methods. They suggested analytical comparisons between travellers from different regions and similar time periods to achieve a more accurate portrayal, which could then be compared with existing local studies.

Attendees stressed the need for practical laboratories dedicated to translating Western research on travel literature. They also proposed forming scientific committees to review untranslated travel accounts, with a particular focus on Russian works. This initiative aims to broaden access to diverse perspectives in this field.

One key recommendation was to extend the conference duration from two to three days. Additionally, there was a suggestion to publish the presented research in a scientific book. These steps are intended to provide more comprehensive coverage and dissemination of the conference's findings.

The creation of an online library featuring works by travellers and Orientalists was proposed. This would include a specialised database for researchers and translators, facilitating easier access to valuable resources. Such digital initiatives aim to support ongoing research efforts.

Recommendations also called for stimulating critical studies that address representations of the "other" in popular heritage through various approaches like anthropology, semiotics, narratives, and post-colonial studies. These studies would help deepen understanding of how different cultures are portrayed.

Understanding Cultural Interactions

The interaction between oral and narrative cultures as described by travellers was another area highlighted for examination. Participants urged questioning the ideological backgrounds that shaped these representations and deconstructing positions of self and other in their writings.

Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, stated, "The recommendations from the Second Heritage Conference embody our vision at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, which aims to establish awareness of the importance of reading popular heritage from multiple perspectives, especially through the writings of travellers and Orientalists."

The conference sought to foster critical intellectual dialogue with historical records. By doing so, it aimed to open new horizons for understanding both self and other while enhancing global recognition of local heritage through a scientific lens.

With inputs from WAM