This multidisciplinary, international, comparative program focuses on (a) the framing of cultural heritage in multicultural arenas, (b) its intersection with citizenship and identity, (c) attempts to designcultural heritage in such a way that it appear as ‘authentic’ and ‘real’ (politics of authentication) and (d) the extent to which cultural heritage is – or is not - subjectively experienced as objectively real (aesthetics of persuasion) in Brazil, Ghana, South Africa and the Netherlands. Combining (1) a thorough analysis of the processes by which canons-in-the-making are re-mediated with (2) an in-depth empirical study of how cultural heritage becomes inscribed into understandings of self through embodied performances, this project seeks (3) to develop a comparative framework, and (4) to move cultural analysis beyond the trodden paths of constructivist and essentializing approaches.3 PhD positions financed by NWO. Project in samenwerking met: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam School for Social science Research (ASSR).<br/>Medewerkers: M.P. Adinolfi (Brazilïe), M. Balkenhol (promovendus), D. Jethro (Zuid Afrika), B. Meyer (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), M. van der Port (ASSR), H. Roodenburg (coördinator), M. Witte (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam).