Representation of the Past

<p>The 1980s and early 1990s have seen a marked increase in public interest in our historic environment. The museum and heritage industry has expanded as the past is exploited for commercial profit. In <em>The Representation of the Past</em> Kevin Walsh examines this international trend and questions the packaging of history which serves only to distance people from their own heritage. A superficial unquestioning portrayal of the past he feels separates us from an understanding of our cultural and political present. Here Walsh suggests a number of ways in which the museum can fulfill its potential - by facilitating our comprehension of cultural identity.</p>