Culture. The story of us, from rock paintings to K-pop music

Where is the line between borrowing and cultural appropriation, and how can the latter be avoided? Professor Martin Puchner of Harvard University ponders this question, examining the cultural interactions that arise as a result of contacts between different peoples and states.

The author retells the history of culture through the prism of the preservation, loss, and restoration of cultural artifacts, paying special attention to places and institutions associated with the production of meanings: from Chauvet Cave to the Egyptian pyramids and Greek theaters, Buddhist and Christian monasteries, the island city of Tenochtitlan, Italian studio offices and Parisian salons, as well as museums.