Public History/Heritage: Translation, Transgression or More of the Same?

Abstract

This article is a reflection of the trajectory of heritage or public history since the path breaking History Workshop conference titled ‘Myths, Monuments, Museums: New Premises?’ The article briefly revisits some of the arguments made at the 1992 conference, particularly those that related to the fate of heritage representations crafted during apartheid. The Voortrekker Monument provides a path into discussion about the possibilities opened after 1994 for transformation of old heritage sites and the ways in which such sites have been reappropriated by new hegemonic political discourse, which has some disturbing resemblances to the old one.