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Why Your Memories Are Being Destroyed: A Critical Look at Heritage & Power

Critical Perspectives on Cultural Memory and Heritage: Construction, Transformation and Destruction

Veysel Apaydin

In this video, we dive into the groundbreaking book *Critical Perspectives on Cultural Memory and Heritage: Construction, Transformation and Destruction* (edited by Veysel Apaydin, 2020, UCL Press). Forget boring academic jargon—this is a raw look at how war, terrorism, capitalism, and urban development are systematically erasing our collective memories. You'll discover why heritage isn't just old buildings, but a battlefield for identity and power. We expose how 'urban renewal' often destroys communities, and why true preservation must come from the people, not the powerful. By the end, you'll understand the hidden forces shaping what we remember—and what we're forced to forget.