Group Paper - Restoration of the Dom
Restoration of the Dom tower, Utrecht
Arts, Culture and Society (MC2V19002)
November 1st, 2024
Wordcount: 3715
Page numbers: 16
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, Group Paper - Restoration of the Dom
Contents
Introduction 2
General Analysis 4
Policy Discourse 5
Public Discourse 7
Professional Discourse 10
Conclusion 14
Bibliography 15
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, Group Paper - Restoration of the Dom
Introduction
Every setting, structure, and object carries a unique story, rooted in its history. Take a moment
to look around you. What do you see? It is very likely that you are currently surrounded by
various objects or structures that were made in the past yet now simply exist in our everyday
lives. Thinking of historical background, cultural and artistic influence, power relations, and
the central messages being conveyed by our surroundings will take center stage in this paper.
The several points as stated above might alter and evolve over time and may also show why,
for example, some buildings are restored and others are demolished. For this reason, we have
chosen the topic of the recent restoration of the Dom tower as our subject of this group paper.
The Dom tower can be seen as one of Utrecht’s main attractions and plays a significant role
within the concepts of art, culture, and society. Understanding a subject like this and being
able to act appropriately in accordance with it requires familiarizing oneself with the history
of the subject, its origin and development over time.
This thorough critical and comprehensive discourse analysis will be built upon the
concepts of art, culture, and society. Constructed in 1254, this historic church sets important
precedents for how visitors, locals, and people from other cities view Utrecht. Related to the
building's contemporary restoration and its recent grand celebration, which is dedicated to the
fact that for now once again the tower can shine on the skyline of Utrecht, having spent five
years being restored and standing in the risers. Nevertheless, this building also brings up
other questions regarding several implications, considerations, and plans for the future. It is
worth considering whether it is sustainable to restore this building every few years or how
treatment of the Dom can change as a result of what it represents. For what reason does the
city of Utrecht value this building so highly, and who gets to decide what happens with it in
the end? We shall view the most recent restoration of the Dom tower from multiple discursive
layers based on this thorough discourse analysis, which starts with the notion of art, culture,
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