What We Talk About When We Talk About Heritage
By Julia Tan
July 2019 FEATURE
It’s the word du jour, “heritage”. International organizations vote to acknowledge and list it (for protection purposes, among other reasons); government departments are established to manage it; festivals held to celebrate it. In Penang, it is a proud badge we wear – we talk about our legacy, our historical multiculturalism, our colonial-era manses, our food, our arts.Yet, what does heritage mean to you, or to me? Many speak of making it hip, more inclusive, less high-brow. In other words, more relatable to all, since we live in it. But does the hawker know...
Julia Tan
is a former editor of Penang Monthly. She remembers her time with the magazine with great fondness.
