The Practices and Politics of Heritage in Antigua Guatemala

Heritage politics in Antigua Guatemala reveal how UNESCO and state regulations intersect with tourism economies, shaping urban aesthetics and everyday practices. The study finds that residents' heritage aesthetics, influenced by materiality and cultural performance, lead to unexpected political outcomes tied to economic activities. Using Latour's assemblage theory and Rancière's aesthetic regimes, the research interprets the heterogeneous contributions of the cityscape—particularly the Arch of Santa Catalina—to social, economic, and political dynamics. This approach demonstrates how heritage sites function as assemblages that articulate with daily practices, challenging conventional understandings of urban heritage management.

Little, W. E. (2018). The Practices and Politics of Heritage in Antigua Guatemala. Anthropological Quarterly, 91(4), 1269–1302. https://doi.org/10.1353/anq.2018.0065