Representation of the Past Museums and Heritage in the Postmodern World

The 1980s and early 1990s have seen a marked increase in public interest in our historic environment. The museum and heritage industry has expanded as the past is exploited for commercial profit. In The Representation of the Past , Kevin Walsh examines this international trend and questions the packaging of history which serves only to distance people from their own heritage. A superficial, unquestioning portrayal of the past, he feels, separates us from an understanding of our cultural and political present. Here, Walsh suggests a number of ways in which the museum can fulfill its potential - by facilitating our comprehension of cultural identity.Walsh, Kevin is the author of 'Representation of the Past Museums and Heritage in the Postmodern World' with ISBN 9780415079440 and ISBN 0415079446.