To understand something, we can objectify it, to regard it as an object and give a logical description with facts that are universally true, not imagined. For example, H2O is the chemical formula for water. 

Yet, understanding is not just knowing the facts, it’s about knowing the “why” behind those facts. Experiencing something first-hand is the best way to gain a deeper understanding, hence expressions like, “In their shoes, I understand why they did that”. Our personal interpretation is subjective, influenced by our own feelings and opinions. It’s not necessarily the absolute truth but it is our truth based on what we find meaningful as we explore the facts from different perspectives.

French anthropologist, Philippe Descola highlights this division between objective and subjective understanding in his book “Ethnographies des mondes à venir”  (Edition Seuil, 2022). He also refers to other divisions such as that between nature and culture, nature being non-human, giving rise to the idea that it should be tamed, transformed and exploited while culture belongs to human society and development. This separation underpins his concept of “naturalism” and his desire to see non-human beings, i.e. everything that forms nature, as social partners equal to humans instead of objects.

Although we now have national parks, protected areas and rewilding projects, is our concept of nature and the way we treat it any different now compared to colonial times and the industrial revolution?  Such a reconciliation, as Descola argues, might be key to a sustainable future but for now, interpretation can at least provoke reflection among people to consider our surroundings and gain a deeper understanding of our complex relationship with our environment.  

L’article Do you understand? est apparu en premier sur open to interpretation.

The message was a wry riposte by supporters of the French environmental movement, “Les Soulevements de la Terre” to the French Home Office Minister, Gérard Darmanin. He used the term to discredit the actions of environmental protestors demonstrating against plans to build irrigation mega basins to counter increasing drought in the French farmland.

There is no infinite growth with finite resources

This prominent message on the roadside got me thinking on two levels. Firstly, we, as a society, are approaching a global climate crisis largely fuelled by the consequences of our attitude to nature since the industrial revolution as a resource to control and exploit. Luminaries from the father of interpretation, Freeman Tilden, to French anthropologist, Philippe Descola, have highlighted this dilemma and echoed the classic mantra, “There is no infinite growth with finite resources”.

Accelerating unsustainability

Despite good intentions and global gatherings such as CoP, there seems little to suggest our approach to the environment is changing. Mega projects such as the irrigation basins or more recently, Europe’s largest fish factory ship, the Annelies Ilena, suggest we are still set on a course of accelerating unsustainability. It is regrettable that we have reached a state where campaigners against such projects are discredited and labelled eco-terrorists by others for daring to say, stop, enough is enough, there has to be another way.

An eco-terrorist in gardening gloves and a hybrid car

My second thought was, am I an eco-terrorist driving by that graffiti in my car? It made me reflect on my attitude towards the environment, how I use it, consume it and value it, or not as the case may be. Am I an eco-terrorist in gardening gloves and a hybrid car? It was useful to challenge my perceptions and actions on a personal basis even if I find it uncomfortably easy to be a hypocrite. This then took me to wider issues such as the compulsion in western society to divide nature and culture into separate worlds, the concept of an historic environment that is so central to ‘modern’ cultural heritage and identity, or even the motivations behind rewilding projects.

A major impact on our environment in just 10 generations

There is plenty to demonstrate that humans are bad for the environment, yet during 4,000 generations of Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens until the Anthropocene epoch (the term being a source of provocation in itself) our footprint was relatively restrained. Thereafter, in just over 10 generations, we have had a major impact on our environment that is difficult to deny.

Those green painted words made we think about ‘modern’ society’s attitude to nature and to read various sources to learn more. Can we change it individually and collectively? Is there a desire to do so? Will our political and economic systems even allow such a change?

Needless to say, “We are all eco-terrorists” has been pressure-washed away now but it served to provoke reflection and challenge my values which is what all good interpretation should do, even if the subjects are testing and tricky. I would even go as far as to say that in this case it was provocation with a capital P.

L’article Provocation with a capital P est apparu en premier sur open to interpretation.

The students were introduced to key photographic and interpretive techniques to capture the unique character of the area between Dieulefit and La Begude de Mazenc, in Drôme Provençale, a hotbed of civil and humanitarian resistance during German occupation in WWII. The resulting projection of photographs and interpretive texts on sites, objects and places over 80 years later captured a pervading sense of place on an intellectual and emotional level, going far beyond mere description and explanation.

Just as interpreters transform information into something relevant, engaging and meaningful, historians interpret our past based on facts and knowledge. There are no right answers but different versions of the truth. In addition to invaluable one-to-one tuition rarely available in higher education programmes, the young historians also confronted the challenge of communicating meaningfully to a non-specialist audience, something they will have to master if their careers take them outside academic circles, such as in tourism, museums and conservation, etc.

Many thanks to the FIEF for hosting our workshop and to FGYO for their financial support. A booklet of the combined work is currently being produced so check back soon to view it here!

L’article Seeking out synergies between words and images est apparu en premier sur open to interpretation.

In collaboration with MUZE/Muses, leaders in designing heritage experiences in Croatia, Sandy Colvine ran a 2-day workshop for interpretive hosts certified by Interpret Europe for a bright group of tourism and local economy professionals to enhance the presentation of their visitor products and services to create strong and memorable visitor experiences. The focus was on how to create a warm welcome, share your love of heritage and celebrate it in a meaningful way.

Congratulations to all the participants and thank you for your great energy and ideas!

L’article Sharing Slavonian heritage for tourism in Croatia est apparu en premier sur open to interpretation.

The Norwegian Parks Association is investing in interpretation to not only promote its regional parks to domestic and foreign visitors but also to celebrate local heritage and culture in a more meaningful way that simple commercial products or services to sell.

That’s why it invited Sandy Colvine to teach an Interpret Europe certified interpretive guiding course to an enthusiastic bunch of Norwegian park rangers plus participants from the Swedish Centre for Nature Interpretation and Italy.

The participants were motivated by learning new communication techniques to immediately use in their jobs to make their heritage more personal and relatable to visitors rather than just stating facts and figures. As such, the training focused on how to relate to people’s heads, hands and hearts for more meaningful connections with heritage by showing how it connects to their world.

It sounds odd but when you connect properly with your surroundings, it starts to mean something to you. You understand it better and you care about it more in your own way BUT no tells you you must do it! That’s the secret of interpretation!

L’article Meaning-making in Norway est apparu en premier sur open to interpretation.

Heritage interpretation is still quite rare in France but the Mercantour NP is championing interpretation to offer visitors more authentic and meaningful experiences to discover its amazing but fragile alpine landscapes. As well as inspiring visitors and revealing the special stories behind natural and cultural heritage, interpretation also promotes caring and protecting the environment. The park recognises that interpretive walks are attractive to visitors but also a great way to create a ‘sense of belonging’ which complement its other efforts to foster responsible tourism and unique visitor experiences in nature.

Read the full article (in French) published by Elena Maselli Head of environmental education and learning for sustainable development in the Mercantour National Park here

L’article Interpretive guide training in the Mercantour National Park (FR) est apparu en premier sur open to interpretation.