Marking Place – The Role of Interpretation

I spent yesterday at the Battle of Hastings site [1]. They had a big event on to mark the upcoming anniversary of the battle, and at some point during the day, people laid down wreaths at the Harold Stone – the stone marking the place where King Harold is said to have fallen [2]. It … Continue reading Marking Place – The Role of Interpretation →

Objects don’t equal objectivity, or: The pitfalls of object-driven interpretation

Last week I was back in Germany finishing up the visitor interviews at Museum und Park Kalkriese for my doctorate research. One interview in particular struck a note with me. A visitor was very upset about what they felt was a major lack of balanced representation. They felt that there was little to nothing about … Continue reading Objects don’t equal objectivity, or: The pitfalls of object-driven interpretation →

It’s just a good day out, or: What if interpretation doesn’t matter?

I have a confession to make: as I prepared for my first weekend of field research last week, I was suddenly overcome by a terrible fear. What if it turns out that interpretation has no real importance to visitors? What if they don’t come because it’s heritage? Quite a few of the staff involved at … Continue reading It’s just a good day out, or: What if interpretation doesn’t matter? →

Architecture and Interpretation: A Case for the Marriage Councillor?

I spent last week in Germany on my first site visit for my PhD research [1]. Many interesting aspects emerged, but the one I’d like to focus on today is – architecture. The architecture of the museum at Kalkriese is nothing short of imposing. As the commercial director explained, the building was intended to be … Continue reading Architecture and Interpretation: A Case for the Marriage Councillor? →