Dr Susie West of The Open University talks about the ideas in the film.

Carnival and the performance of heritage - for iPad/Mac/PC

Artistic traditions perspective: Susie West

Carnival and the performance of heritage

The development of Notting Hill Carnival from Britain's recruitment of Carribean workers in the 1940's to the present day.

Notting Hill Carnival: history

How can Notting Hill Carnival be managed as a mass tourism event without compromising artistic integrity or losing touch with its roots?

Notting Hill Carnival: challenges

What artistic traditions does Notting Hill Carnival draw upon and what's unique about its performances?

Notting Hill Carnival: artistic traditions

Why Notting Hill? Because for many Afro-Carribeans, Notting Hill is awash with memories: here are just a few.

Notting Hill Carnival: multiculturalism

A sample of some of the ideas and case studies covered in the course AD281 Understanding global heritage.

Global heritage: course taster

History perspective: Susie West

Professor Ruth Tompsett of Middlesex University talks about the ideas in the film.

History perspective: Ruth Tompsett

Challenges perspective: Susie West

Dr Hakim Adi of Middlesex University talks about the ideas in the film.

Challenges perspective: Hakim Adi

Artistic traditions perspective: Ruth Tompsett

Multiculturalism perspective: Susie West

Multiculturalism perspective: Hakim Adi

Dr Rodney Harrison talks about studying The Open University's Course AD281: Understanding global heritage.

Studying global heritage

There's a lot more to Notting Hill Carnival than a great street party. This album gives you a true insider guide, by some of the people who have made the Carnival what it is today. Its story reaches back to the darkest recesses of European tradition, through Colonialism and slavery, to racist Britain of the 1950’s and 60’s. It merges contemporary ideas with art forms reaching back via the Caribbean slave plantations to tribal Africa. And its setting in West London brings out a history of the area which some of its residents might prefer to forget. The album also contains academic perspectives from Susie West, Lecturer in Heritage Studies at The Open University; Hakim Adi, Reader in the History of Africa and the African Diaspora at Middlesex University; and Ruth Tompsett, Visiting Lecturer in Carnival Studies at Middlesex University. This material forms part of The Open University Course AD281 Understanding global heritage. You can discover something of what it's like to study the course by using the downloadable 'activities' files to explore some ideas which connect carnival with the study of heritage in contemporary society and the way in which heritage is related to multiculturalism and the production of a sense of identity and community.