Sovereign and the dream in the protection of cultural heritage: a study on Ramadan in Sandman in the light of Agamben's theses

Abstract

This essay explores the protection of cultural heritage through the analysis of Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel Sandman and the theories of Giorgio Agamben, especially the Homo Sacer project and its political and normative implications. The choice of these references is justified by Sandman’s ability to illustrate, in a metaphorical way, the consequences of authoritarian decisions regarding heritage, while Agamben provides a theoretical framework for understanding how sovereign power can create zones of exception that marginalize communities. Using a critical approach, the essay examines the relationship between public power and cultural preservation, highlighting the importance of social participation in this process. Tensions are identified between patrimonialization and the exclusion of communities, showing how unilateral preservation, driven solely by state decisions, can result in a state of exception that silences the voices of society. As a metaphor, the figure of the Caliph in Sandman is analyzed, who, in seeking to protect Baghdad at any cost, decontextualizes the city socially and culturally, suspending it from reality by making decisions without consulting local communities. The process of selecting cultural assets by a technical elite, which often disregards the realities experienced by the population, is also criticized. The proposal is that cultural preservation should be understood as a dynamic and relational process that includes communities and their living cultural practices. The conclusion is that heritage protection should go beyond static conservation, promoting the continuity and evolution of local identities, in dialogue with the needs and meanings attributed by communities.

Key words: Agamben; Sandman; Cultural Heritage; Homo Sacer Project; State.