La patrimonialización de un paisaje marítimo: de la arena de la playa a la arena política

Abstract

The paper explores the social meaning and uses of a beach located in the central coast of Catalonia (Spain). We focus on the heritage process or “patrimonialization” carried on in this beach by an association devoted to traditional sailing, and how this process affects to other beach users. A conflict generated around the project to construct a seafront promenade in the same place showed up that the beach itself is considered heritage by local people and that it fall into the discourses and representations of local identity. The heritage process of the beach will be involved in the inclusion/ exclusion practices both as subject and object.

Keywords

• Heritage process
• Maritime anthropology
• Beach
• Landscape
• Identity