Description
CASTELLS: BETWEEN HERITAGE AND SPORT
Book Summary
This volume collects the presentations, round tables, and papers submitted at the second Casteller Symposium, held in Valls during the Santa Úrsula Fair in 2012, within the framework of the Casteller Forum of Catalonia. The work offers a transversal and updated vision of the "casteller" (human tower) universe, exploring the delicate balance between its sporting dimension and its deep-rooted cultural tradition. An essential book for scholars and enthusiasts seeking to understand the evolution of this practice, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
What is it about?
The book delves into the debates and reflections that emerged during the Casteller Symposium, a key event for the casteller community. The central axis of the work is the creative tension between the sporting aspect of the "castells"—focused on overcoming new challenges and creating unprecedented constructions—and their status as cultural heritage, tied to the transmission of values, local identity, and collective memory. Through the various contributions, the current dynamics of the casteller world, its future challenges, and its consolidation as a unique social phenomenon in the world are analyzed.
Main Topics
- The duality between sportiness and tradition in casteller practice.
- Technical evolution and innovation in human constructions.
- The value of castells as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- The social and identity function of castells in Catalonia.
- Future perspectives and challenges of the casteller universe.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is recommended for castellers of all ages, popular culture researchers, anthropologists, sociologists, and historians interested in intangible heritage. It is also a valuable read for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of castells from an academic and reflective perspective, beyond the mere spectacle of the events.
What this book offers
- A rigorous and multidisciplinary analysis of the casteller phenomenon, the result of a specialized symposium.
- A compilation of presentations and debates that reflect the current thinking of the main experts and actors in the sector.
- A deep reflection on the future of castells, balancing sporting innovation with the preservation of tradition.
- A reference document for understanding the cultural and social complexity of a practice declared Heritage of Humanity.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Various authors
- Publisher: Cossetània
- Language: Catalan
- Topic: Folk art, public spectacles, parades, festivals, popular culture, folklore, myths and legends
- Collection: L'Aixecador
- Binding: Paperback
- Edition Date: October 2013
- Number of pages: 216
- Weight: 534 g
Editorial Review
A reference work for all those who want to go beyond the festive image of the castells and delve into their internal debate. The compilation of the Symposium's contributions offers a precise snapshot of the moment the casteller world was experiencing in 2012, although the reflections on the tension between sport and heritage remain fully valid. It is a necessary book for the library of any scholar of Catalan popular culture and for castellers who want to understand the more conceptual dimension of their activity.