Interpreting
Critical Resource Issues and Controversy
Components:
Interpreting
Critical Resource Issues
Interpreting
Controversy
Component:
Interpreting Controversy
Approach:
Effective
interpretation of controversy requires mastery of the
techniques and applications in section III. of Module
340 component "Appropriate Technique: Connecting
Multiple Resource Meanings to Multiple Audience Interests
and Perspectives" and Module Draft—Interpreting
Multiple Points of View.
Objectives:
Upon
completion of this component, the learner will be able
to:
Articulate
how controversial subjects and perspectives can
present opportunities for facilitating emotional
and intellectual connections to the meanings of
the resource;
Effectively
interpret controversial subjects and perspectives.
Content
Outline:
What?
Controversy
is the result of multiple resource meanings and/or
audience perspectives competing for emphasis in
presentations or influence on policy and management
decisions.
Often
new data, policies, theories, or interpretations
will cause controversy.
When?
Whenever
competing resource meanings or audience perspectives
are relevant to the resource and audiences.
Controversy
provides opportunity
Controversy
means the topic is relevant
Controversy
means people care about the resource.
If
people care about, there is great potential
for them to care for the resource.
Do
not purposefully create controversy or avoid controversy
that is relevant to the resource and audiences.
When
controversy is present, use it to provide opportunities
for audiences to make their own intellectual and
emotional connections to the meanings of the resource.
Do
not attempt to interpret controversy when audiences
have a primary agenda of challenging or changing
policy, interrupting interpretive programs or
operations, or insulting interpreters or management.
Those audiences are outside the scope of interpretation.
In such cases:
Recognize
when facilitating opportunities for audience
connections to the resource is no longer likely
to succeed and;
Recognize
a different service is required for those audiences,
for example informational briefings, public
hearings, negotiation, political strategy, and;
Provide
appropriate service to those audiences (these
services are usually determined by and often
implemented by management) and/or;
Politely
disengage from interpretive efforts and/or;
Respond
in a manner as directed by management.
How
Respect
and acknowledge the rights of audience members
to hold and maintain their beliefs.
Alternative
meanings and perspectives on the resource usually
provoke audiences.
Effective
application usually disarms controversy, allows
for different perspectives to dialogue, and
provides opportunities for audiences with a
variety of perspectives to make personal connections
with the meanings of the resource.
Acknowledge
that resource meanings and audience perspectives
toward those meanings can conflict.
Encourage
audience members to consider alternative perspectives
and determine their own "truth."
Acknowledge
that some resource meanings and audience perspectives
suggest behaviors that are destructive to the
resource and/or audiences.
Acknowledge agencies are responsible for making
preservation decisions based on scientific observation,
research, and scholarship.
Know
and understand agency decision making process
and positions on resource management and preservation.
When
appropriate, articulate and interpret agency
decision making process and positions on preservation
within the context of differing positions.
Acknowledge
that, except for preservation issues, the agency
has no official position on the meanings of
the resource and that the resource is an appropriate
place for the exploration of multiple meanings
and perspectives.
Articulate
what is known and what is not known and perspectives
that conflict.
Articulate
the processes by which information is known
and interpreted.
Volunteer
potential or possible explanations for what
is not known and reasons why perspectives conflict—this
can be very provoking.
Articulate
multiple explanations and point out the complexity
of science and history.
Create
plan for interpreting controversial issues.
Research
all potential resource meanings (KR) relevant
to the issue.
Research
all potential audience perspectives (KA) on
the issue.
Communicate
about potentially controversial topics with resource
management and management.
Advocate
for or against the use of interpretation to
the degree it can be effective in facilitating
opportunities for intellectual and emotional
connections to the resource.
Present
plan and approach for interpreting a controversial
issue.
Request
specific instructions on appropriate actions
to take when confronted by ideology or politics
that lie outside the scope of interpretation.
Suggested
Developmental Assignments:
Identify
a potentially controversial subject for your resource.
Research both the subject as well as the potential audiences.
Connect resource meanings to audience interests and
perspectives and develop an interpretive product that
accurately and without manipulation describes multiple
resource meanings and audience perspectives, establishes
a mutual environment of respect, and provokes greater
understanding of multiple perspectives. Discuss the
development of the interpretive product as well as the
interpretive product itself with your supervisor.