DECODING THE VENICE CHARTER: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION OF ITS TRANSLATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Claudine Houbart; Franca Malservisi; Clémence Belleflamme; Dennis Rodwell; Claudio Varagnoli

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Summary

Paper Title

DECODING THE VENICE CHARTER: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION OF ITS TRANSLATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Authors

Claudine Houbart
Franca Malservisi
Clémence Belleflamme
Dennis Rodwell
Claudio Varagnoli

Modality

Abstract

Subject area

3. Universalism and diversity: Rereading the Doctrinal Documents from Diverse Perspectives - A discussion on the importance of the Venice Charter (and other related doctrinal documents) through diverse epistemologies and perspectives, acknowledging the cultural diversity of heritage and exploring contributions from the Global South.

Publishing Date

11/04/2025

Country of Publishing

Brazil | Brasil

Language of Publishing

en-US

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/845079-decoding-the-venice-charter--a-multidisciplinary-exploration-of-its-translations-and-interpretations

ISBN

978-65-272-1284-3

Keywords

Venice Charter; translation; universalism; networks; cultural diversity

Summary

Each decade marking the anniversary of the Venice Charter prompts fresh contemplation of this cornerstone of conservation doctrine, which has woven itself into the fabric of preservation history for the past sixty years. Today, the Charter’s relevance persists for some, yet others find it lacking, even decrying it as a vessel of ‘authorized heritage discourse’, synonymous with European cultural imperialism. Its wide-ranging scope and universal aspirations are now challenged in the name of embracing the diversity of heritage, methodologies, and stakeholders overlooked during the debates of 1964. While the preamble ostensibly entrusts each nation with the responsibility to apply the Charter’s principles within the context of its own culture and traditions, these principles were initially crafted based on experiences primarily drawn from European monumental heritage, with intentions to apply them globally. The impracticality of universal application was acknowledged as early as the 1970s, prompting numerous revision processes and attempts to articulate supplementary commentary. However, does the Venice Charter truly exist as a singular entity? Originally drafted in French and based on multiple cultural backgrounds, the document has undergone many translations. A cursory examination of the French original and its English rendition reveals disparities not only in language but also in underlying principles. As subsequent translations have been based on these two versions, such discrepancies have only proliferated, casting doubt on the Charter’s universal nature. While this issue has been sporadically acknowledged, it has yet to be systematically studied. In commemoration of its sixtieth anniversary, the authors of this paper embarked on establishing methodological frameworks for a comprehensive chronology, cartography, and genealogy of the Charter’s linguistic iterations. This interdisciplinary endeavor unites researchers from heritage, translation, and IT development fields. By the close of 2025, the project aims to propose a database structure and visualization interface facilitating collaborative aggregation of data on Charter versions, interpretations, and implementations worldwide. In this paper, initial findings and methodological choices from an exploratory analysis of the French, English, Italian, and Spanish versions are unveiled.

Title of the Event: ICOMOS SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM 2024
City of the Event: Ouro Preto
Title of the Proceedings of the event: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital

How to cite

HOUBART, Claudine et al.. DECODING THE VENICE CHARTER: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION OF ITS TRANSLATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS.. In: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings. Anais...Ouro Preto(MG) Convention Center / UFOP/ UFMG Campus, 2024. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/845079-DECODING-THE-VENICE-CHARTER--A-MULTIDISCIPLINARY-EXPLORATION-OF-ITS-TRANSLATIONS-AND-INTERPRETATIONS. Access in: 09/02/2026