Heritage and hermeneutics: towards a broader interpretation of interpretation

Abstract

This article reexamines the theoretical basis for environmental and heritage interpretation in tourist settings in the light of hermeneutic philosophy. It notes that the pioneering vision of heritage interpretation formulated by Freeman Tilden envisaged a broadly educational, ethically informed and transformative art. By contrast, current cognitive psychological attempts to reduce interpretation to the monological transmission of information, targeting universal but individuated cognitive structures, are found to be wanting. Despite growing signs of diversity, this information processing approach to interpretation remains dominant. The article then presents the alternative paradigm of hermeneutics through the works of Schleiermacher, Dilthey, Heidegger and Gadamer, to provide a broader interpretation of interpretation. This not only captures the essence of Tilden's definition but construes heritage interpretation as a more inclusive, culturally situated, critically reflexive and dialogical practice.

Testing a model of effective interpretation to boost the heritage tourism experience: a case study in Macao

“…In fact, tour guides' contribution to tourists' satisfaction and heritage site conservation was well discussed in some previous studies (Huang, Hsu, & Chan, 2010;Poria, Biran, & Reichel, 2009;Randall & Rollins, 2008). Some commentators have suggested a transformation for tour guides from their traditional role as information providers to transformative experience facilitators in order to better satisfy tourists' emotional needs (Ablett & Dyer, 2009;Christie & Mason, 2003;. Others have noted the role that guides could play as agents of sustainability, introducing tourists to the need for sustainable tourism (Carmody, 2013;de la Barre, 2013;Weiler & Kim, 2011).…”

Teaching Truth in Third Space': The Use of History as a Pedagogical Instrument at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah

“…One of the critical components of this' experiential approach' is the fostering of a 'sense of place' between visitors and the place they visit (Ablett and Dyer 2009), where a strong affective bond and deep emotional connection, or 'topophilia' as termed by Tuan (1974), between visitor and place is developed. This fostering of an emotional attachment to a place through interpretive methods and content, whether this takes place over a long period of visitation or through 'love at first sight', so to speak (Tuan 1977), should not only enhance the mindfulness of visitors as they interact with the tangible and intangible aspects of the places they visit, but also help site managers control visitor impacts.…”

“…Much has been written about the role and importance of interpretation in the context of natural and built heritage sites attractions as a way of managing visitors' experiences and visitor impacts in a sustainable manner (e.g., Ablett and Dyer 2009;Archer and Wearing 2002;Boyd and Timothy 2001;Moscardo 1996Moscardo , 2003Nuryanti 1996;Orams 1996;Reisinger and Steiner 2006;Stewart et al 1998;Timothy and Boyd 2003;U zzell1998). Interpretation can be defined as 'a process of communication or explaining to visitors the significance of the place they are visiting' (Timothy and Boyd 2003: 195).…”

“…This' experientially-based approach' to interpretation (Ablett and Dyer 2009;Apostolakis 2003) is supposed to be transformative in the sense that interpretation should draw something out of the visitor; to give the visitor a greater knowledge and appreciation for both the history and the environmental characteristics of the site (Tilden 1977). One of the critical components of this' experiential approach' is the fostering of a 'sense of place' between visitors and the place they visit (Ablett and Dyer 2009), where a strong affective bond and deep emotional connection, or 'topophilia' as termed by Tuan (1974), between visitor and place is developed.…”

Heritage Interpretation as Public Discourse

“…Ablett and Dyer (2009) have proposed the use of hermeneutics-that is, the study of the principles of literary, philosophical, and social interpretation-in order to understand its functioning within the heritage field. Going beyond conceptions of one-way, instrumental communication, of "getting the (scientific) message across," the hermeneutic approach posits two additional interpretive actions that occur simultaneously: 1.)…”