Macedonia, UNESCO, and Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Challenging Fate of Teskoto

Type Journal Article - Journal of Folklore Research
Title Macedonia, UNESCO, and Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Challenging Fate of Teskoto
Author(s)
Volume 52
Issue 2
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
Page numbers 233-251
URL https://search.proquest.com/openview/52299efa3dfda42f2c0bcdca0e71e88c/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=363​3
Abstract
In Macedonia debates about heritage are played out along the fault lines of ethnic and religious conflict as well as a faltering economy and threats from neighbors about interpretations of history. The country's 2002 and 2004 failed applications for a UNESCO Masterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage and its ongoing submissions of representative lists provide a valuable case study of how rural folklore symbols are selectively adopted into heritage discourse and elevated to iconic status. This essay analyzes Teskoto (the Heavy/Difficult Dance) as featured in two UNESCO Masterpiece applications as well as in village contexts, ensemble performances, an annual staged ritual, and tourist appropriations. The story of how Teskoto became a national symbol but failed to achieve UNESCO status as ICH illuminates the manner in which nationalist discourse shapes performance practices.

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