Perceiving Heritage in Greek Traditional Settlements Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2015 Ioanna Katapidi Abstract This research examines the way in which people perceive heritage in living heritage places focusing on Greek traditional settlements. Despite the widely acknowledged idea of heritage as a social construct which may be understood via perceptions, our knowledge is still far from complete. The thesis particularly examines what is identified and valued as heritage, and why, and how conservation may affect these processes. It reveals that these are not three different aspects which can be explained through single independent factors alone, but they are interrelated forming people’s perceptions of heritage. The research indicates that the way in which people perceive heritage depends on a dynamic relationship across the identification, evaluation and conservation of heritage and on a multiplicity of influential factors behind these processes. Examining both experts’ and residents’ perceptions in six traditional settlements, the study indicates that heritage may be collectively and individually perceived, as evident through the similarities and differences among participants. The conceptual framework uses a qualitative perception-based approach in which the different aspects of perception are examined. It is found that this may contribute to the way in which perceptions of heritage may be examined in future research. In addition, the examination of both experts and residents’ perceptions adds to our incomplete knowledge about the extent to which these two groups understand the concept of heritage. This suggests that their distinction as often presented by other studies may be inadequate in explaining the way in which heritage is perceived. The study also addresses the gap between perceptions of heritage and perceptions of conservation, showing how conservation can affect the way in which lay people identify and value heritage. Overall, the thesis contributes rich empirical evidence to the conceptualisation of heritage as a social construct. 1 Acknowledgments The completion of this thesis would not have happened in the same way without the support of a number of people who contributed to this solitary affair. The research was funded by the Greek Institution Bodossakis Foundation which I would like to thank for their financial assistance throughout these years. The inspiration for this thesis comes from two great men: My grandfather, Yannis Lamprou, a local craftsman in these traditional settlements, who taught me to appreciate buildings and structures in these villages not as a matter of art but as living elements which embody the lives of craftsmen and locals; my uncle Nikos Margaris, a well-established academic in the world of physics, who made me dream about the academic world since I was a child. Even though both are not alive I feel the need to thank both for their influence in my life in general and this research in particular. My supervisors Neil Harris and Francesca Sartorio have been central to the realization of this thesis. I would like to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to both of them for their support, constructive discussions and challenges, which have shaped significantly my way of thinking. The emotional support that they also provided is not of less importance and I now admit firmly that I have been lucky to have both of them as my supervisors. I would also like to thank my reviewer Mike Biddulph for his critical comments on my work and his support and confidence in me and my research during this period. My special thanks go to all of my participants who engaged in my study, providing very rich material. I would particularly like to thank all the locals who generously spent time with me. The support of all of my friends was also very important. I especially like to thank my so called Cardiff family Ayana, Hade, Sarah, Laia and Jessica who have been always there for me. I am also deeply indebted to Rhiannon, Graham and John who, except from their friendship and support, provided their proofreading skills. I would also like to thank Gabin for his contribution to my stressless days in Cardiff. 2 Most importantly, I would like to thank my family, my mother Margarita Lamprou, my father Panagiotis Katapidis, my brother Nikos Katapidis and my grandmother Vasiliki Lamprou for all their support in every single step of my life, their love, their patience, their positive energy and their unconditional giving. I would not be here without them. Last but not least particular thanks are due to Aris Sapounakis, one of the most important people in my life, for his boundless support and inspiration in the various stages of this thesis and of my life. 3 Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 11 1.1 Rethinking the concept of heritage ............................................................................................. 11 1.2 Understanding heritage as a social construct via perceptions ..................................................... 13 1.3 Aim and Research questions ....................................................................................................... 14 1.4 The context of the research ........................................................................................................ 16 1.5 Value of the study ....................................................................................................................... 17 1.6 Thesis structure ........................................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER 2: APPROACHING HERITAGE AND ITS CONSERVATION ......................................................... 22 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 22 2.1 Identifying heritage ..................................................................................................................... 23 2.1.1 Introducing the concept of heritage ...................................................................................... 23 2.1.2 Heritage as a matter of selection ........................................................................................... 26 2.1.3 Balancing between objectivity and subjectivity ..................................................................... 29 2.2 Values of Heritage ....................................................................................................................... 31 2.2.1 Historicity and Knowledge ..................................................................................................... 33 2.2.2 Memory, Continuity and Familiarity ...................................................................................... 34 2.2.3 Identity ................................................................................................................................. 36 2.3 Conserving heritage .................................................................................................................... 38 2.3.1 The need to conserve ............................................................................................................ 39 2.3.2 From a defensive and sterile approach to a flexible and socially sensitive one ....................... 40 2.3.3 Protecting or affecting heritage? Valuing conservation.......................................................... 47 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 56 CHAPTER 3: APPROACHING PERCEPTIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF PLACE ................................................. 58 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 58 3.1 The reciprocity of place-people relationship: setting the context ............................................... 58 3.2 Perceptions and their components ............................................................................................. 61 3.2.1 Defining Perception............................................................................................................... 61 3.2.2 What does perception involve? Aspects of perception .......................................................... 63 3.2.3 Important factors which influence perceptions ..................................................................... 68 4 3.3 Approaches to study perceptions and attitudes in the urban context ........................................ 73 3.3.1 Sensory driven approaches ................................................................................................... 73 3.3.2 Approaches to sense and meaning of place ........................................................................... 75 3.3.3 Studies linking perceptions of heritage to perceptions of conservation ................................. 77 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 78 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH ......................................................................................... 80 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................