Appropriate
Technique: Interpreting Multiple Points of View
Approach:
Effective
interpretation of multiple points of view requires mastery
of the techniques and applications in Module 340: Advanced
Research and Resource Liaison.
Content
Outline:
What?
Interpreting
multiple points of view is an interpretive technique
(AT).
Interpretive
products that describe and explore two or more
meanings, perspectives, opinions, ideologies,
or ways of looking at the same resource or resources
interpret multiple points of view.
Each
meaning or perspective provides significantly
different opportunities for the audience
to make their own intellectual and emotional
connections to the resource.
These
meanings or perspectives can be from the
past or the present.
These
meanings or perspectives often disagree
or conflict, but may simply illustrate "difference."
Examples:
The
institution of slavery
Enslaved
person’s perspective
Slaveowner’s
perspective
Free
African-American’s perspective
Economic
meanings
Religious
meanings
Political
meanings
Wolf
re-introduction
Environmentalist’s
position
Rancher’s
position
Agency
position
Meaning
to the ecosystem
Meaning
to tourism
Meaning
to other resource management efforts
Multiple
points of view can be interpreted with any interpretive
product.
Multiple
points of view can be interpreted in combination
with other interpretive techniques.
Why?
Interpreting
multiple points of view presents greater opportunities
for audiences to relate to the resource.
Allows
more people to recognize meaningful connections
to the resource.
Includes
audiences who have been "excluded."
Addresses
broader audience interests and perspectives.
Addresses
those who want to know and understand more
about the resource.
Interpreting
multiple points of view presents greater opportunities
for provocation.
KR,
resource meanings, and perspectives that
are new to audiences.
Appreciation
that others view a given resource as having
a range of meanings different than one’s
own.
Interpreting
multiple points of view presents the opportunity
to create an environment of dialogue.
Multiple
meanings allow the interpreter to make gestures
of respect.
Gestures
of respect allow for an exchange of views.
Interpreting
multiple points of view is an effective way
to raise awareness as to the value of preservation
and stewardship.
Interpreting
and describing differing and/or competing
meanings and perspectives without manipulation
or malice provides a "moral high ground"
or credibility for resources, interpreters,
and agency positions.
Many
audiences recognize when they are being
told what to think and reject the content.
Interpreting
multiple resource meanings helps audiences with
widely differing perspectives share their care
about the resource.
How?
Apply
the techniques and applications in section III.
of Module 340 component "Appropriate Technique:
Connecting Multiple Resource Meanings to Multiple
Audience Interests and Perspectives."
Develop
interpretive products with interpretive themes
that link a tangible resource to two or more
universal concepts or ideas.
The
theme should express two or more ideas.
Examples:
The Model 1841 Harpers Ferry rifle represents
the conflict between tradition and change.
This theme requires the development
of both how the weapon represents tradition
and change as well as how the perspectives
of tradition and change conflict. Conflict,
tradition, and change are all universal
concepts.
The
turkey vulture represents life’s dependence
on death. This theme requires the development
of both how the turkey vulture represents
life and death as well as the role it
plays as a "recycler." Life, death,
and dependence are all universal concepts.
Develop
interpretive products specifically to support
those themes.
Use
tangible resources as symbols for different
meanings and/or perspectives.
Use
a single tangible resource to represent
different meanings and/or perspectives.
Example:
California condors represent what some
people see to be a futile waste of money
on an almost extinct species AND what
some people see as evidence of the human
ability to effect nature in a positive
way.
Example:
The communion chalice in a mission in
San Antonio represents religious beliefs
and faith AND the expansion of European
ideas and culture AND an assault on
native cultures.
Use
two or more tangible resources to represent
different meanings and/or perspectives.
Example:
The bald eagle is an example of charismatic
megafauna that represents American ideals.
The prairie dog represents "pest" species.
However, in some places, the preservation
of the eagle depends on the preservation
of the prairie dog. Together they represent
the relationships of an ecosystem and
strategies for stewardship.
Example:
The pike or spear that John Brown intended
to arm enslaved people with represents
terrorism. Dangerfield Newby, an ex-enslaved
man who fought with Brown to free his
family represents Brown the freedom
fighter. Together they pose moral questions
about violence and law.
Select
symbols, meanings, and perspectives that balance
and fairly represent a variety of perspectives.
It
is tempting to select opposites. Extremes
may eclipse more representative perspectives.
Interpretive programs that do this tend
to be like political talk shows that focus
more on conflict than substance.
If
extreme positions help establish relevance,
be sure to include other perspectives as
well.
Allow
audiences to connect emotionally and intellectually
on their own terms.
Present
multiple points of view in a balanced, accurate,
and fair manner.
Allow
audiences to discover and determine their
own positions.
If
resource meanings and/or perspectives are potentially
controversial, see Draft Module—Appropriate
Technique: Interpreting Critical Resource Issues.
If
interpretation is needed to describe and support
an agency preservation position or issue—see
Appropriate Technique: Interpreting Critical
Resource Issues.
Encourage
audiences to consider multiple points of view.
Ask
direct questions and allow visitors to respond.
Ask
rhetorical questions.
Imply
questions by reviewing all points of view
interpreted.