Past into Present

By: Stacy F. Roth

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Synopsis: First-person interpretation--the portrayal of historicalcharacters through interactive dramatization or roleplaying--isan effective, albeit controversial, method used to bring historyto life at museums, historic sites, and other public venues.Stacy Roth examines the techniques of first-person interpretationto identify those that have been most effective with audienceswhile allowing interpreters to maintain historical fidelity. Past into Present focuses on first-personinterpretation's most challenging form: the unscripted,spontaneous, conversational approach employed in "living history"environments such as Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts, ConnerPrairie in Indiana, and Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. Whileacknowledging that a wide range of methods can touch audienceseffectively, Roth identifies a core set of practices that combinepositive communication techniques, classic interpretivephilosophy, and time-tested learning theories to promote audienceenjoyment, provoke thought and inquiry, convey important messagesand themes, and relate to individual visitor interests. Sheoffers numerous examples of conversation and demonstrationstrategies, visitor behavior profiles, and suggestions fordepicting conflict and controversy, and she provides usefulcharacter development guidelines, interpretive training advice, and recommendations for adapting first-person interpretation fordiverse audiences.