تغییر در تجربه فرهنگی از مکان تاریخی؛ از زیست‌ پذیری تا رویت‌ پذیری (مطالعه موردی میدان نقش ‌جهان اصفهان)

مکان‌‌ های تاریخی و آثار به جا مانده از گذشتگانِ هر قوم یا ملت، همواره ارزشمندترین میراث‌های فرهنگی یک کشور به شمار می‌آید. کارکرد و کاربردِ بسیاری از این بناها در طول زمان و در تاثیر و تاثرات گوناگون تغییر کرده است. یکی از مهم‌ترین میدان‌ها و بناهای تاریخی در ایران، میدان نقش‌جهان واقع در بافت مرکزی شهر اصفهان است. این پژوهش در پی مواجهه با این پرسش است که آیا می‌توان از نوعی تغییر و تحول در تجربۀ حاضران‌ نسبت با آن مکان و غلبۀ رویکردِ رویت‌پذیری نسبت‌به زیست‌پذیری در تجربه خاص میدان نقش‌جهان سخن به میان آورد؟ این پژوهش، با روش مر‌دم‌نگاری انجام ‌شده ‌است و حاصلِ مشاهدات متوالی و متناوب، مصاحبه با افراد مختلف در میدان نقش‌جهان و مصاحبه با مدیران شهرداری و میراث فرهنگی و رجوع به اسناد و نقشه‌هاست. این مطالعه نشان می‌دهد‌ صورتِ غالبِ فضاهای میدان نقش‌جهان در اصفهان،‌ دیگر فضایی برای به اشتراک گذاشتن تجربه‌ای تاریخی و معننابخش نیست، بلکه میانجی‌ برای نشان‌دادنِ زیبایی و رویت‌پذیرکردنِ خود و شهر و عناصر هویتی است که تنها توجه به زیبایی‌ها و استعدادهای بازنمایی این مکان را به‌همراه دارد، بی‌آنکه تجربه‌ای مشخص یا هویت معنایی خاصی را فراخوان کند. عوامل پدید‌آمدن این مواجهه نیز، شتابِ پدیدآمده در زیست روزمره و‌ مجال‌‌ندادن به تجربه یک مکان در کیفیتی متفاوت، فراگیری رسانه‌های جمعی و جایگزینیِ تجربه بازنموده به تجربه بی‌واسطه، به‌نوعی یکسان‌شدگیِ تجربۀ مواجهه با مکان تاریخی و نوعی نامکان‌ شدگی منجر می‌شود.

evolving cultural experience of historical places: from livability to visibility (a case study of naqsh-e jahan square in isfahan)

historical places possess distinct physical forms and materialities, but their modes of use and engagement can undergo transformations over time. in recent decades, a notable shift in the way people interact with and experience these spaces has become apparent, which is the focus of this research. the question arises whether, instead of serving as a means for sharing warm, meaningful, and specific atmospheric experiences, historical places have now become primarily beautiful vistas that must only be briefly admired due to contemporary demands, urban haste, and the unique living conditions enabled by new media. isfahan’s naqsh-e jahan square, one of iran’s most prominent historical sites, has hosted a variety of spaces and physical forms, each reflecting a particular quality of urban life in different historical periods. can a distinct and pervasive mode of engagement with naqsh-e jahan square be identified, where its dominant form significantly differs from its previous forms? how do the people present in the square experience this change? and what are the key factors driving this transformation in the cultural experience of the site?. this study aimed to explore the evolving nature of people’s interactions with and perceptions of this historic place, examining whether it had shifted from a space of lived experience to one primarily of visual consumption and spectacle. understanding the underlying factors behind this potential transformation could provide valuable insights into the changing cultural significance of historical urban environments.  materials and methodsgiven the nature of the research topic and the requirements of the field, this study employed an ethnographic approach. ethnography involves direct observation, participation in daily activities, interaction, and interviews within the natural environment. the core of the ethnographic work was participatory observation.through systematic observation of naqsh-e jahan square at different times of day from november 2023 to may 2024, spanning consecutive and often continuous days, the researchers aimed to provide a comprehensive description of the various situations and activities occurring in the field. detailed notes were taken to document how participants interacted with different parts of the square.during the observation periods, relevant photographs were also captured. some of the most salient images will be briefly described in the findings section.for the interview component, the researchers first selected informants, who had been theoretically and practically engaged with naqsh-e jahan square for many years. additional interviewees were recruited from among the merchants operating in the four sides of the square and the adjacent covered market. informal conversational interviews were also conducted based on the specific situations encountered during the researchers’ presence in the square.over the 7-month period, a total of 17 individuals (11 men and 6 women aged approximately 24 to 65 years) were interviewed and their concepts were coded and analyzed.another method employed in this research was the review and secondary analysis of relevant documents and data. these materials included books and theses written about naqsh-e jahan square, as well as the data obtained from the square’s managers and the information websites of isfahan municipality.the combined results of these field-based and analytical methods supported the researchers in addressing the research questions and developing a comprehensive understanding of the transformations in the cultural experience of this historic site. discussion of results & conclusionthe observations indicated a shift in the use of mosques within naqsh-e jahan square, transitioning from places of worship to tourist attractions. this was evidenced by the presence of numerous photographers at different times and the continuous efforts to enhance the square’s visibility and framing for optimal visual perspectives.