James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2000

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AY5023:06

Heritage: Interpretation and Presentation

Townsville

Inadmissable Subject Combination: AY5014

20 lectures, 10 hours seminars, 20 hours workshops. October intensive mode.

Available to students who have completed a BA(Hons) or a BSocSc(Hons) in anthropology or archaeology or a BSc(Hons) in archaeology or other equivalent qualification approved by the Executive Dean on advice from the Head of School. Also available to all students enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma of Cultural Heritage Studies or Master of Cultural Heritage Studies.

Staff: Dr S Greer, Dr D Roe.

This subject focuses on the way in which heritage sites and heritage information is and can be presented to the public. It examines the ethical and legal issues associated with presenting such information; it looks at the role and nature of interpretation in presenting such information; and explores a range of media in relation to this. The latter range from information that can (and is) presented on the World Wide Web; to ‘living’ museums and other forms of heritage display to simple techniques (such as the production of ‘plain English’ booklets etc) that are culturally appropriate.

Learning Objectives:

  1. develop an understanding of ethical and legal issues in providing or making heritage information available to the public;
  2. develop an understanding of the way in which reports may be used in presenting heritage information;
  3. develop an understanding of the process of interpretation, in particular, the concept of cultural ‘appropriateness’ when presenting heritage information to the public;
  4. develop a knowledge of existing information available through a number of media including the World Wide Web;
  5. develop skills in relation to preparing heritage information for presentation to the public.

Assessment by practical exercises in workshops (40%); written assignments (60%).

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