Die Amerikas: Forschungskolloquium zu den Amerikas aus kulturwissenschaftlicher Sicht

Dr. Sylvia Kasprycki (Univ. Frankfurt)

California Rashomon, or: The West Berkeley Shellmound Campaign —
A Report in Four Tableaux

On 4 September, 2018, after protracted negotiations the City of Berkeley rejected the development application for the construction of a 260-unit building complex, including retail space and underground parking garage at 1900 Fourth Street. Beneath the paved parking lot of the proposed building ground lie the traces of 5,000-year-old human settlement: the remains of the West Berkeley Shellmound. The city’s decision constitutes a preliminary victory for the Native activists who for more than two years have fought for the preservation of this cultural heritage and for an alternative use of the site.

This paper discusses the campaign and its historical, socio-political and legal implications from the differing perspectives of the involved parties and outlines 1) the essentialist position of the Ohlone family bands, who regard the grounds as a sacred site and as a vital link to cultural tradition and identity; 2) the scholarly arguments and interests (especially of archaeologists); 3) the primarily profit-oriented perspective of the property owners, developers, and investors; and last but not least 4) the opinions of the public at large in a city suffering from acute housing shortage.

Exemplifying the negotiation of contesting claims to validity against the background of specific Californian colonial experience, the West Berkeley Shellmound Campaign raises questions not only regarding the care of and authority over cultural heritage, but also regarding the constitution and manipulation of knowledge, including fact finding and opinion making through internet platforms and social media.

Wann?            Donnerstag, 10. Januar 2019, 18 -20 Uhr

Wo?                Oettingenstr. 67, 80538 München, Raum L 155

Veranstalter:  Institut für Ethnologie

Programm zu den kulturwissenschaftlichen Forschungen in den Amerikas unter der Leitung von Dr. Henry Kammler für das Wintersemester 2018/19 hier zum Download (108 KB).

Mehr Informationen zu Vorträgen am Institut für Ethnologie im Wintersemester 2018/19 finden Sie unter „Veranstaltungen".

Sie können auch das Archiv mit den Veranstaltungen der vergangenen Jahre besuchen.