ABSTRACT
Dissonant heritage encompasses sites with negative historical connotations, diverging from the conventional positive associations with heritage. This includes places scarred by tragic events like genocides, massacres, and human rights violations. World Heritage sites, designed for the preservation of beauty, often struggle to address “bad” heritage, like Auschwitz or Hiroshima Peace Memorial. However, initiatives like the Slave Route Project acknowledge negative historical aspects, commemorating events like transatlantic slavery. Memorialisation confronts painful histories, such as Berlin's Holocaust Memorial or Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. New York's September 11 Memorial also serves as a reminder of recent tragedy. Negative heritage removal varies; some sites are rehabilitated, while others fall into disrepair. Sites of Conscience, like Argentina's ESMA or Chile's Memory and Human Rights Museum, educate about past injustices and promote human rights. Tensions arise within the World Heritage Convention when sites connected to conflicts, like World Wars, are nominated. Toxic heritage, a growing concern, results from environmental contamination, including industrial disasters like Bhopal, Chernobyl, and Fukushima. Some areas, like Love Canal or Bikini Atoll, serve as toxic heritage sites, embodying the lasting impact of human-induced harm. Addressing toxic heritage demands balancing preservation, education, and public health considerations.
