Interpreting UNESCO and ICOM intangible heritage conventions: Japanese collections in Sweden

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to examine and analyze how Röhsska museum in Gothenburg and the Ethnographic museum in Stockholm worked according to the UNESCO Convention (2003) and ICOM guidelines in relation to the preservation and display of their Japanese collections intangible cultural heritage. By looking at Japanese objects as symbols that are part of a wider context and whose culture has a complex system of different classifications that only can be understood through social interactions, Geertz’s theory "Thick Description" has been particularly useful. This is a comparative study drawing on literature, observation and interviews with key curators. Through their knowledge and the institutions practice of Japanese collections and exhibitions, this thesis critically examined how these two museums understood and implemented the UNESCO Convention and ICOMs guidelines. Sweden ratified the UNESCO Convention in 2011, but this thesis shows that in practice this has not worked well. It concludes by arguing that methods should be developed that could function as a foundation for care plans and decisions regarding safeguarding of museum collections intangible cultural heritage in the future.