‘In the moment’: Euphoria as a heritage value

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

ABSTRACT This paper explores the heritage value of euphoric experiences, where the meaning and significance of places are often established instantly, ‘in the moment’. By convention, heritage assets are assessed by specialists according to their historical, evidential, and aesthetic values, values that have been recognised for over a century. More recently, following the publication of the Burra Charter (1979), and Conservation Principles (2008), communal and social (including symbolic) values have also been identified. These relate to the meanings of a place for its ‘heritage communities’. They accrue over time but are often harder to apply because they are more subjective. However, communal and social significance can sometimes be instantaneous, bringing joy and creating memories that shape personal and group identity. Working with grassroots music venues and attending gigs, it is easy to see this happening: the euphoria of the mosh pit or rave generating not just life-shaping memories of the experience but also value judgements for the ‘third place’ in which it occurred. In this paper, we present the argument for euphoric value and assess the ways these moments of euphoria can be accounted for in heritage assessment.