Over the past decade, history and heritage have been increasingly called upon as a tool to facilitate trade and diplomatic relations, open borders, build intercultural dialogue, and help shift geo-political landscapes. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, international alliances, regional commitments, and territorial claims have sought legitimacy and resonance on the basis of long-standing historical and cultural ties. But whose heritage is being invoked and mobilized where geopolitical alliances and regional boundaries are concerned? How can the curation and presentation of diverse heritage voices and memories come to bear on larger geopolitical, regional, and national claims?
Episode Two of a two-part documentary series explores the question of heritage digitization.