Heritage and hermeneutics: towards a broader interpretation of interpretation

Abstract

This article re-examines 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.

Keywords:

• environmental interpretation
• heritage tourism
• hermeneutics
• Gadamer
• Heidegger
• Tilden

Acknowledgement

The idea for this article arose in discussions between the authors and Dr Lucinda Aberdeen in 2005, whose contribution and comments upon this text are gratefully acknowledged. We should also like to thank the anonymous CIT reviewers whose careful and generous suggestions have enriched this article.

Notes

¹Reproduced by permission of John Wiley & Sons.