A Seventh Principle or Lesson of Interpretation
This paper has described the six principles for creating effective interpretation:However,these were laid down in 1957,some 60 years ago.Times have changed and we need to consider a seventh principle—the choices we now have in the ways we can deliver the stories to our visitors.
New technologies can reveal the world in innovative and exciting ways.The pace of change and the ever-increasing quality of digital technologies is astounding.However,content and your target audience should drive the choice of media.The media or the technology is only the delivery mechanism for the story.
A discussion of technologies could be the subject of another paper but the advantages to technologies are the ability it gives in reaching new audiences through the use of mobile applications,especially to 15-25 year old audiences;to bring animation into areas where the historic fabric of a heritage site would otherwise prevent it—e.g.projection water into a drain or fire into a hearth;and to minimise capital outlay on media such as audio tour hardware,where this can be delivered to a phone.
This last example is of the Man Engine.The Man Engine is the largest mechanical puppet constructed in the UK.It was built to celebrate the Mining Heritage of the Southwest of England.It's named after a system of reciprocating ladders that were used to carry miners up and down mineshafts.(https://www.daowen.com)
In 2018,the Man Engine toured across the old coalfields of South Wales to celebrate the story of how the Industrial Revolution shaped Wales and how,in turn,Wales shaped the world—from the technological innovation formed through global trading links and industrial partnerships,to the experiences and endeavour of Wales'working people,which led to social innovation,political reform and the birth of the UK's National Health Service.
It saw the giant puppet travel across the land in celebration of the region's rich mining legacy.Thousands of people turned out to see the spectacle.And this is what this is—a spectacle.It demonstrates creativity,imagination,scale,uniqueness,entertainment,and people being involved in an experience.
It was made relevant by the“playlets”that went with it that told the stories of hardship/camaraderie/community.The audience felt it was part of something special—a sense of experiencing something out of the ordinary which celebrated a story of people that was,in its day,very ordinary.This also celebrates and taps into a shared cultural past—people want to see a giant miner because the miner represents them and their shared past.Perhaps this sums up this lesson of interpretation:a planned and thoughtful application of technology,spectacle,of a shared heritage.Essential ingredients for successful interpretation.