01578nas a2200229   4500000000100000000000100001000000100002008004100003260000800044653001700052653002300069653003000092653002400122100001800146700002200164245007800186856009500264300001100359490000600370520095800376022001401334       2012                            d  cmar10aAuthenticity10acultural practices10aheritarization of culture10aintangible heritage1 aIsabel Alonso1 aEmiliano Márquez00aDel patrimonio cultural inmaterial o la patrimonialización de la cultura  uhttp://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2007-81102012000100003&lang=es  a75-1010 v63 aThe notion of intangible heritage has been enthusiastically received by the State members of UNESCO, among them Mexico. Nevertheless, few critical studies exist that analyze the variety of social, economic and political dynamics behind "heritarization" of cultural practices. The new way of conceptualizing cultural heritage is inheriting flaws from the traditional view, including an essentialist way of conceiving heritage, the material and symbolic misappropriation of cultural practices by hegemonic groups, the emphasis on outstanding features and expressions, and the search for "authenticity", the latter being defined by external actors. Despite the guidelines established by UNESCO, listing and promotion of cultural practices frequently entail the risk of folklorizing and relocating cultural contents and meanings, although they also open new opportunities and possibilities for the social actors that create and live such cultural practices.  a2007-8110