From a colonial reinvention to postcolonial heritage and a global commodity: performing and re-enacting Angkor Wat and the Royal Khmer Ballet

Cultural heritage, particularly in postcolonial contexts, is often shaped by nationalistic narratives and global commodification, with UNESCO World Heritage status exacerbating these dynamics. This study highlights the contested histories of Angkor Wat and the Royal Khmer Ballet, demonstrating how French colonial reinvention and postcolonial essentialization have transformed these elements into global commodities. By analyzing their transcultural trajectories, the research reveals the complexities of heritage construction, using comparisons to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) for broader context. The findings underscore the need to critically examine the formation histories of heritage sites to avoid perpetuating cultural stereotypes and essentialist narratives.

Falser, M. S. (2013). From a colonial reinvention to postcolonial heritage and a global commodity: performing and re-enacting Angkor Wat and the Royal Khmer Ballet. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 20(7-8), 702–723. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2013.794746