The architecture of bonds through the website personas y patrimonios

Abstract

The study of such bonds as we create with heritage enriches our understanding of identity-construction processes. A virtual community where people share their individual, personal or private heritage, the website Personas y Patrimonios2 enables us to probe into the nature of these bonds and their contribution to the generation of identities. We employ a mixed methodology that combines descriptive statistical analysis and content analysis conducted on a sample of n=229 heritages. The analysis of the collected data enables us to develop a classification of heritage spheres, bond types and heritage knots which in turn helps us define the architecture of the personal bond and gain a deeper insight into its functioning.