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Disclaimer
This blog was created for ENVS*3000, University of Guelph.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of the University of Guelph.
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Unit 10: My beliefs & role as a nature interpreter
Through this course we have learned what it is to be a nature interpreter. To be insightful, to guide others and to inform curious minds about the beauty of nature while maintaining our own beliefs on what the role entails. My beliefs as a nature interpreter could be determined as ethical based, where I understand that every non-human being within our planet has moral rights. Every plant that grows has the right to be undisturbed, protected and advocated for. Insect that marches the forest has the right to explore, interact and live without being disrupted. Every mammal, reptile, avian, fish and amphibian has the right to be as they are, while remaining a source of education for us. Elements such as soil, sun, wind and rocks have the right to be as they are, undisturbed.
My beliefs are that all of these non-human beings have no ways of verbal communication and therefore we must be their active voice. We are nature interpreters who have the ultimate role of informing people about nature and allowing them to understand the importance of conservation and protection of our beautiful planet. To fight for the rights of animals, plants and the environment. In such a way we are activists for nature.
As I reflect on our semester together, I am reminded that everyone has very unique outlooks on nature. Perception plays a key role in nature interpretation because some people may have a different view on nature’s importance. To me, I believe that we are visitors on this planet and we must leave things as we have found them. We don't get another planet so I think it's essential to provide care for our planet and all its inhabitants, whether that be through conservation, animal rehabilitation or education. Nature has a lot to offer, through music, art, and education but we must all understand that we cannot take advantage of it. It's a gift to be surrounded by such natural beauty. Sometimes, I think we forget that the forest behind our house is not just a boring old forest. It's an ecosystem that houses many animals, insects and plants. A rotting tree trunk can be a new source of life for bacteria and fungi, while a pond can be a home to frogs, ducks, fish and more. Learning to appreciate what we are surrounded with can help understand the importance of it.
We have learned that teaching others about nature’s wonders is a gift. We are provided with information to be passed on to others through interpretive walks, blog posts, and podcasts. As interpreters, we are tasked with the duty of enriching people’s experience with nature (Beck et al., 2018). Interpretation allows people’s cognitive domain to be activated which affects the way people process information, affective domain which is the way people feel towards a subject, and kinetic domain which is the way people use their motor skills to learn (Beck et al., 2018). Adapting our teaching styles to the various learning styles can help a variety of people. For example, if I was to conduct an interpretive walk through the arboretum to learn about different tree species, I would point out the different leaves shapes, colours and textures. I would let learners touch the leaves or bark to actively teach the difference and I would talk about what makes each species unique. All of these things cater to the three learning styles, visual, kinetic and auditory (Beck et al., 2018). It's important to understand that not everyone learns the same as ourselves so catering to others will help get a broader range of learners.
While teaching about nature, it's important to understand how inclusivity plays a role. Remaining inclusive to age, gender, soci-economic status, learning-styles and disability is key to delivering information to learners in a safe space. By doing so, we are letting people know that they are welcome in nature and it can be a safe space for each. Additionally, we must reflect on our experience with privilege and how it contributes to the learner’s experience to remove barriers. We must not forget that we constantly carry around an invisible backpack with our experiences and knowledge, adding to privilege. Some people may not have the biological science or environmental science background as we do so we should always remain inclusive by reducing the scientific terms, including metaphors, using easy to understand language, and answering questions.
This course has taught me that risk versus reward is an important piece in nature interpretation (Beck et al., 2018). Learning to take safe risks while remaining vigilant of the imposing threats. Would it be safe to wander from the trail during an interpretive nature walk? Or could there be threats like poison ivy. Is there a way to make risk taking more effective to the learning experience without putting learners at health risk. Some risks are not worth taking, simply for the educational experience. Clearly communicating impending risks to learners is essential. Educating people on the dangers we might be exposed to and how to avoid them can further promote their experience and let them feel part of a safe environment.
I believe that my responsibility as a future nature interpreter is to grow the curious minds of learners. I would like to invite people to step out of their comfort zones and learn about nature’s wonders. I want to add some thrill and excitement to nature while being informative about its inhabitants like plants and animals. It's important to notice that science and environmental science can be intertwined into an art form of nature teaching (Wals et al., 2014). The combination of both allows people to understand the science behind current issues like climate change while educating them on the importance of maintaining food webs and ecosystems during climate change. We can inspire people to see the issues nature currently faces and push them towards being part of the resolution.
I am eternally grateful for a course like this that has opened my eyes to my upcoming role as a nature interpreter. It has allowed me to find my passions while teaching me how to communicate my beliefs effectively to listeners. Ive included some pictures of my favourite experiences in nature. I look forward to having more
Bye for now.
Lea
References:
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
Wals, A. E. J., Brody, M., Dillon, J., Stevenson, R. B. (2014). Convergence Between Science and Environmental Education. Science, 344(6184), 583-584. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1250515
Hey Lea,
Reading through your post I found the key takeaway to be about perspective. Differing perspective shape how people learn, interact, and grow with the world around them. I kept this in mind throughout and wanted to share my thoughts on some of what you said.
The idea that non-human beings cannot speak for themselves is interesting, because to nature what is there to speak about. The flow of the world continues with or without us for good or for bad. In my opinion, the only thing we can truly comment on our the actions of ourselves and other humans. For example, we as humans set the bar for what is friend and what is food. Subjectivity plays a key role in how we answer that question. We judge other humans and ask questions as to how they've gotten these beliefs. You mention all the ways this happens, through age, gender, background and socio-economic status. In some cultures eating certain animals is commonplace, whereas for us we find it strange. Taking these things into account allows us to better interpret not just the what of the world, but the why as well. Another example of this could be brought up for conservation, how invasive plants and animals are dealt with. To the organisms that the invasive species overtake, they do not care as thats the way of life. However to us, we see the invasive species as a threat to biodiversity and stability. Is it right for us to eliminate the invasive species for the greater good?
Overall, I found your post to contain lots of nuance that made me ask questions about how I currently see interpretation. Thanks for sharing!
Nature Interpretation for change
At its core, I believe that nature interpretation is all about the feelings you have toward nature, whether it's in that moment or in general. However, the more textbook definition is an educational activity that analyzes the meanings and relationships within nature, through use of original objects and first hand experience to communicate information (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt1). Nature interpretation can and should be done by anyone and anywhere.
What is my personal ethics as a nature interpreter? I feel as though everyone should have the right and access to nature interpretation. This means that as interpreters we need to make interpretation easily accessible to everyone, especially public areas (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt7). This means adding more ramps for wheelchairs in public parks, and making sure there are enough benches for people to sit at whenever they need. There needs to be trash cans and picnic tables for people to eat lunch, or use at their own leisure as some people may need to change their diabetes patch or throw out a diaper. We also need to make nature interpretation a safe space for people to share their own thoughts. Some reasons people, especially minority groups, might not want to get involved with nature interpretation is because of cultural barriers, communication barriers, and economic barriers (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt7).
I also believe that as interpreters we should encourage the future generation to become interpreters, and open this up to children as well. I think it is so important for children to understand the beauty of nature at a young age. Knowledge of the world and natural history breeds “fond familiarity” with people and nature experiences (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt21). It is so important for people to create these relationships with nature because it’s in ecological literacy that makes people understand the impact of climate change, pollution, and other environmental problems (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt21). I believe that the next generation needs to be more exposed to nature and being outside. With today's technology, the appeal of going outside and playing has faded and we need to bring it back. I think some new initiatives to enforce this can be through having more outdoor school trips in elementary schools, and trying to incorporate more outdoor classes into our schedule. There are even simple activities that we can try and get children into to deepen their love for nature. Some of these activities include nature portraits where you paint or draw everything around you, or pattern wandering where you pick a pattern and search an area for anything that has a similar pattern (Evergreen, 2023). All this is to say that I believe the next generation needs to develop their sense of place. This is the feeling you feel when you find a place where culture and history speak for itself. Finding your “A raison d’être” or a reason for existing is crucial for wanting to protect the environment (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt1). I think that our next step is to engage children in more nature interpretive activities.
I am very passionate about protecting the environment and I am always looking for new ways to become more eco-friendly and sustainable. As nature interpreters, it is our responsibility to look after the environment as it sustains everything that we need to survive. I think one way in doing this is researching and donating to researchers trying to find new ways to help in the climate crisis. One organization called rainforest alliance hopes to bring harmony to people and the environment by implementing scalable solutions to the climate crisis (rainforest, 2024). Rainforests are ecosystems under pressure from climate change, and organizations like this that put emphasis on protecting them are crucial. Another new initiative that is being researched is carbon sequestration. Everytime a farmer tills their soils, they release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and this increases our greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists are trying to find ways to keep the carbon in the soil, and this is through practical farming techniques like reducing tillage, cover crops, precision fertilization and more. A scientific article called Shaky Grounds by Gabriel Popkins discusses all of the ways that carbon sequestration could show promise to the climate crisis (Popkin, 2023). Supporting research for this is one simple way that we can all become more sustainable and aid the climate crisis. Another very simple way is by adapting a more reusable lifestyle. Some ways of doing this are through not using disposable bottles, using reusable initiatives such as beeswax to preserve food instead of plastic wrap, and using reusable makeup wipes instead of disposable ones. I think it is our responsibility to adopt these small changes in our lives and in the lives of the people around us.
Everyone will be able to tackle these changes in their own unique and important way. However, the way that I believe I should tackle these issues is through social media. I think social media is the future whether you choose to admit it or not. It is so important to use social media as a tool to engage and teach people. Something I can see myself doing, and that I already partly do is posting and reposting climate change initiatives and ways to save the planet. I think that using social media as a platform to encourage change is amazing! I currently run a couple TikTok pages for different clubs and it is so exciting to see the way different people respond to what we post. Some TikToks also reach thousands of views in only a couple hours. This goes to show the power that social media has. The National Park Service Climate Change Response Program has slowly begun to emphasize the importance of climate change and ways to help the crisis. Some of the ways they are doing this is through using science to help manage parks, finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint, and through public awareness and communication (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt5). I think that climate change needs to become an active influential part of the interpretation of nature as these go hand and hand, and I believe that spreading awareness through social media is my way of doing this. I will be posting more photos of nature to encourage a deeper appreciation in others and repost articles that talk about ways that we can aid in the climate crisis.
So why is nature interpretation so important? It is absolutely essential to create heightened appreciation, make deeper understandings, and find new ways to view the world around us. It can be one of the solutions to the climate crisis, and it can help one's mental health (Beck et al, 2018. Chpt1). The environment is beautiful, and one way to appreciate it is through nature interpretation. I know that everything I have learned over the last couple of months will be put to good use going forward!
Here are some of my favourite nature moments
Beck, L. Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. (Chapter 1). SAGAMORE Publishing.
Beck, L. Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. (Chapter 5). SAGAMORE Publishing.
Beck, L. Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. (Chapter 7). SAGAMORE Publishing.
Beck, L. Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. (Chapter 21). SAGAMORE Publishing.
Evergreen. 10 fun and easy outdoor activities for Kids. (2023). https://www.evergreen.ca/stories/7-fun-and-easy-outdoor-activities/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-_mvBhDwARIsAA-Q0Q4Rj4rHzCu8PxRJ0ob-7Kpuq0TrABZKSyTIQgnCzAcIxronevCsfZAaAujcEALw_wcB
Popkin, G. (2023). Shaky ground. Science, 381(6656), 369–373. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adj9318
Rainforest Alliance. (2024). https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/
Nature interpretation can and should be done be anyone, anywhere. That rings true throughout your whole post.
I felt like your post had some great points, your ethics feel as though they prioritize others at the forefront which is very noble. I could not always say the same ethically, but inclusion is definitely very important. In this way I could relate your beliefs to your responsibilities. One way was your belief that interpretation should be accessible to everyone, and that children should understand the beauty of nature interpretation. With this in mind we can prepare learning styles particularly for each age group as mentioned in Beck et al., (2018). These include sensory oriented activities for 0-2 year olds, symbol recognition based activities for 2-7 year olds, and real world experience mentions with 7-11 year olds (Beck et al., 2018). By doing this we can enhance the memorability and make sure the kids are properly developing interpretation skills.
The idea to approach interpretation through TikTok and other social media platforms follows this trend of youth inspiration. These platforms are a great outreach method and can be used educationally in many regards. It feels like currently social media is all doom and gloom, so I would hope that we as interpreters could use our platforms to spread positive environmental news and show the youth what we stand to lose for not taking care of the planet.
Overall, your reasoning and elaboration on why you interpret is very reminiscent of my own ideas. I'm glad to share the interpretation space with you!
What Do I Bring as an Interpreter?
To start my final blog post, I think it's fitting to reflect on all that has shaped me throughout the semester. In the reading for each week, we have discussed audiences and methods of communication for interpretation, as well as the various realms of interpretation such as music, art, and science. But something that rings true in most people is their own personal ethics. It is something that you build from very young, and doesn't have many changes over time. While there are objective rights and wrongs in the world, ethics can be more ambiguous. So coming into the interpretation scene, it has been important to get a major sense of what's important ethically. With this, I'll begin with the beliefs that I think would be beneficial to be brought.
I am less sturdy in my beliefs compared to most people. I believe it's important to be diligent and accepting of others potential ideas. This can be especially true when considering people have "invisible knapsacks" (Gallavan, 2005). We've considered how other people's experiences shape how they interpret the world, and what better way to start my interpretation of the world with other people at the forefront. Since beliefs are very subjective, the ability to adapt and accept ideas outside your own is my most needed belief. While this adaptability is important, the middle ground is not always the right solution. If two people believe that 2+2=4 and 2+2=5, the right answer doesn't become 4.5. With this, I think its important to hold your ground on certain topics and opinions. But knowing when to do this is difficult. My belief is that this is innate to oneself, and knowing your limit will come automatically. In interpretation, my belief is that everyone will have their own set of opinions, and that is their privilege to do so. A different ethical belief I hold relates back to the middle ground argument, where some people will be better suited to interpret certain environments. As stated in Beck et al., (2018), indigenous individuals have been interpreting their natural environments for thousands of years, and non-locals cannot interpret these environments with the same level of intricacy and nuance. But for me personally, a fresh set of eyes on the environment can perhaps bring back some commonly overlooked things for the experts, so everyone has their own part to play.
This translates into the responsibilities I would have as an interpreter, and for this it really depends on the context. If I were to be interpreting the environment I grew up around to someone outside of it, I would take up the responsibility of sharing. This is in the sense that my opinion is sought after and wanted by someone else, where ethically it is unjust to inject yourself and your insights onto the unwilling. However in this case, assuming other want to hear, it's also my responsibility to make sure that I am catering my insight in a way suitable to my audience. This could be to those of different ages, races, genders, and backgrounds, or it can even be just those with different learning styles (Beck et al., 2018). This is my responsibility because if you do not convey your interpretations in these ways, the message or story you are trying to tell may be lost. We can relate this back to the blog prompt on historical interpretation, where historians and cultural story tellers have had their tales convoluted and misinterpreted maliciously or just by accident. This ruined the accuracy and authenticity of the work, which is something I do not want to do (Beck et al., 2018). Another shared responsibility between myself and all other interpreters out there will be maintenance of their interpretation. This could be your local trails or parks, all the way up to your country and the planet. In the way that one interpreter cares for their specific interpretation, we all must care for the larger group of them that makes up our world. By doing this, we can ensure the future of interpretation for our children and theirs after them. I believe that it is paramount that interpreter give those younger the opportunity to interpret in the future, and that requires our planet to stay healthy. Children are the most capable of interpreting and absorbing the outside world in their first years, and they develop very quickly through different learning styles, as an interpreter to these children I'd be responsible for creating activities that boost their developing abilities (Beck et al., 2018). By doing this I could aid in ensuring a future for interpretation.
This final section is the most difficult for me to convey, as I've just noted that interpretation should be catered for your audience and not yourself. But I feel that the approach I most resonate with tells a story. A picture paints a thousand words, and nature is a million pictures. Guiding people through a natural wonder is the best approach to create wonder and have audiences take charge for something you care about. You would tell this story while moving through nature, to keep them on their toes. The story would have abrupt changes of pace with constant highs and lows. It would be mapped steadily, to keep flow throughout. Their would be puzzles to solve, and give a sense of accomplishment after completion. But most importantly, the stories meaning would be at the forefront. The stories message would be one I personally am passionate about, and I could answer any follow ups with ease. This is my ideal approach, one that goes through all the learning styles in some way, in an attempt to reach the most people.
I have learned a lot through this course, but most the important thing I've learned in my opinion is to not lose yourself. Regardless of how you have to change your interpretation to meet your audiences needs, don't lose the passion you have for your interpretation. Maintaining your passion will allow it to spread to many others, and that has been the goal of the course all along.
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
Gallavan, N. P. (2005). Helping teachers unpack their "invisible knapsacks". Multicultural Education, 13(1), 36. https://link-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/apps/doc/A137921591/AONE?u=guel77241&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=9fe2f151
The Innate Intelligence of the Octopus
Hi everyone,
This week we are talking about the most amazing things we know about nature. There are so many avenues to take when talking about this kind of subject however, the most prominent one that came to mind are Octopi! These are incredible aquatic creatures that possess very impressive qualities. I’ve always been interested in this species because of their unique way of life and all the cool advancements they are capable of. First and foremost, we all know Octopus have 8 tentacles and suction cups. But did you know that there can be over 200 suckers on each arm with the ability to lift 31 pounds (Pagowski, 2018)? Did you also know that these suction cups are how the octopi can taste things (Pagowski, 2018)? That's why they are so versatile to the octopus, because they not only use their tentacles to grab things but based on the taste of things, they can determine the difference between stationary objects or food (Siliezar, 2020). One extremely scary fact is that the Giant Pacific Octopus arm can reach a length of 6 meters or up to 20 feet, to put that into perspective, that's the length of one shipping container (Pagowski, 2018).
Giant Pacific Octopus (Nature Picture Library, 2022)
Unlike many other creatures, this species has 9 brains and 3 hearts (Blue Planet Aquarium, 2022). Yup, you heard that right. They have 3 hearts, 1 which circulates blood around their bodies, and the other two pump blood to their gills (Blue Planet Aquarium, 2022). They have 9 overall brains, one brain known as the ‘central brain’ is used to control the body as a whole and then they have the other 8 located within each tentacle to control each arm independently (Associated Press, 2019). These are some of the more unknown facts, however, one of the most impressive facts is their ability to camouflage. Octopi up close look like they have speckled skin or spots. These spots are sacs containing pigment underneath the skin (WWF, 2019). When Octopi squeeze and contract these sacs, they can increase and mutate colours simultaneously while mirroring the surrounding colours (WWF, 2019). This is such an intricate and complex process. Being able to change colour and texture depending on the severity of the situation, location, and surrounding predators is a strategy that is so incredibly unique it is almost hard to comprehend.
Camouflage Octopus (Science Friday, 2016).
I hope at this point you are just as fascinated with Octopi as I am. Fun fact, you can say Octopuses or Octopi however Octopuses is more widely used and simpler, this is the preferred plural form. For me, Octopi just sounds better! I would encourage everyone to watch My Octopus Teacher on Netflix. This documentary highlights a very unique relationship between a filmmaker and a female octopus. We see the daily life of this octopus but eventually, they would develop a relationship so strong that she would wait in the same spot for him every day for a year. She was intellectually capable of developing a relationship and understanding the emotions associated with the presence of the filmmaker. He would wait until she would reach out to him. This female octopus would willing stick by the filmmaker whenever he would visit her at the beach. Her cognitive health was so strong, she portrayed actions not typically understood or seen in aquatic life. Unfortunately, the relationship between the two had to end to continue the circle of life. Female octopi die after laying their eggs and are already dead once these eggs hatch. The filmmaker had to let go of this relationship in order for her to fulfill her duty. It was a very emotional moment and some have a hard time comprehending this kind of physical relationship, but it exists between humans and nature. This is a prime example. It has been noted that for some females in captivity actually speed up this process purposely by mangleing themselves with their arms showing acts of self-harm (Wood, 2022). This theme has been common in many captive animals including orcas and proves to us that there needs to be an end to captivity.
Sorry I went a little overboard with this one but I really hope you enjoyed this post. I think Octopi are so cool and intelligent animals I wanted to share with you all!
AP News. (2021). 9 brains, 3 hearts: Some wild facts about octopuses. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/ba6e3fa5bb804565b9d6d666b6d40a73#
ED_BluePlanet. (2022). Giant Pacific Octopus - Animal spotlight. Blue Planet Aquarium. https://www.blueplanetaquarium.com/sea-life/giant-pacific-octopus/
Giant Pacific Octopus - Northwest Wildlife Preservation Society. (2018). https://northwestwildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/giant-Pacific-octopus.pdf
Siliezar , J. (2020, November 9). Octopus’ suction cups hold its taste and touch sensors. Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/10/octopus-suction-cups-hold-its-taste-and-touch-sensors/
Wood, M. (2022). What causes the octopus death spiral? new study points to changes in cholesterol production. University of Chicago News. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/what-causes-octopus-death-spiral-new-study-points-changes-cholesterol-production#:~:text=After%20a%20mother%20octopus%20lays,arms%20into%20a%20tangled%20mess.
World Wildlife Fund. (2019). Meet the master of camouflage, the day octopus. WWF. https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/spring-2019/articles/meet-the-master-of-camouflage-the-day-octopus#:~:text=But%20those%20spots%20are%20actually,out%2C%20depending%20on%20the%20situation.
Photo References:
Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) experiencing freedom after release from captivity, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada,
Ethologist Roger Hanlon has devoted a career to studying how octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish become inconspicuous.
This blog prompt could be taken in so many ways, but this one is very cool. While I don't know a lot about marine biology, I have always been curious. Maybe it's just by how little we truly know about the ocean, but apparently we know quite a lot. The information on how their suction cups work and how much they can hold is crazy, I've seen videos on how octopus can squeeze themselves through tight spaces, which makes their strength all the more impressive.
One thing I noticed as I read through this post was how many questions it created. This would be the main thought from most scientists when looking at the natural world, where the scientific lens allows further exploration of these facts into reasons. One major question I had was why 9 brains? Does each tentacle truly need its own brain? and with that being said how does it work? Are they consistently communicating with each other? how does the communication happen? This could further relate to their ability to camouflage, which I would assume is controlled by the main brain. But as a scientist, you couldn't stop with just assumptions. These questions make me appreciate how complex and amazing this part of nature is.
But then I take another look at it, through the lens of my own post this week, evolution. I think about how long it has taken for the octopus to get to this point evolutionarily. This may explain the somewhat backwards deaths of female octopus, where the only thing that matters to nature is their children. Just goes to show how much different lenses matter in interpretation.
The Most Amazing Things about Nature
This blog prompt is rather open ended, but at the same time should bring out the most interesting posts to read. For me, when I thought about what I felt the most amazing natural thing was, I thought of my minor throughout my studies, which has been evolution. Now evolution itself isn't that amazing to most people, but it is the intricacies of the topic as a whole that amaze me.
To begin, it is paramount that we understand what evolution is at all. Evolution is generally described as the process of lifes changes to fit into it's environment. Other terms get thrown around with evolution a lot, such as natural selection and adaptation. But overall, these terms are attempting to elaborate onto the idea that organisms are changing to improve. The term fitness is used to refer to how these changes play out, where high fitness is a positive change and low fitness is a negative change. In this case, we believe that evolution always favours those with the highest fitness.
Now for another very important part of evolution, variation. Variation is one of the most important aspects in terms of how we interpret the world. It's variation that has allowed all the vast biodiversity that we witness everyday. If every individual were the same, the fitness values would also be the same, and therefore no evolution would occur. Variation from an interpreters perspective allows beauty.
Examples? Where to begin. Anything beautiful you have ever seen in nature is likely the result of these exact processes. A colourful plant or animal is colourful for a reason, there was some fitness advantage that allowed that colourful being to survive and reproduce better than their dull cousins. But, at the same time we can think of all the 'dull' natural things in life. Those are also that way for a reason. The amazing thing about this for me is that reason, when you remember that everything has been undergoing change for millions of years, and that there is a reason to the madness, it only further adds to the awe.
But what plays into the fitness needed to evolve? Why is it that plants and animals evolve at all? Usually it is one another. Competition is the key driver to innovation. The world is a full place, and with every new species there are many extinctions. So in order to keep up, you must change. One such case is between the plants and the herbivores. While plants want to make sure their genes are spread, herbivores want a tasty treat. So while plants have changed the way their seeds are stored, with different types of fruits and vegetables. Herbivores have gotten smarter, or stronger, or more fine tuned to crack the nut.
Evolution has given us more than we think. But we must also remember that we are subject to that change. What we find beautiful today may change and evolve in it's own way. The most amazing thing about nature is it's variation, change, and reason.
Nature's Symphony (week 7)
Hey everyone, I took a little hiatus from posting for a week to recharge. I was able to go on a brief hike but forgot to take any pictures for you guys : ( I did see a thunderstorm this week, which was super cool but highly unsettling given that it is FEBRUARY IN CANADA, but I digress.
This week I’d like to address a fun question: Where is music in nature? Where is nature in music? I guess the first thing to do is to define music. Music is loosely defined as patterns of sound varying in pitch and time produced for emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive purposes (Gray et al., 2001). So, basically it is intentionally made sounds that vary in pitch.
So, where is music in nature? Well to me it can be found in a variety of things. Something as simple as the wind blowing through the leaves of some trees can be a form of musical ambience, although by itself it isn’t really music because it isn’t done for any particular cognitive purpose. Instead, intentional sounds like crickets chirping and bullfrogs croaking form a musical symphony.
Personally, I find pretty much all of nature's music peaceful and calming. Even cicadas, which I know many people find annoying, remind me of summer. So, I find them peaceful even when others do not.
Perhaps the most interesting music in nature is formed by more intelligent creatures such as whales. According to research, humpback whales use phrases similar in length to ours, and create themes out of several phrases before singing the next part (Gray et al., 2001). And, even though they can sing over a wide range of seven octaves, humpbacks still use musical intervals that are similar to the intervals in our scales (Gray et al., 2001). Their songs even contain repeating sounds that form rhymes! I knew whales’ had complex communication, but I didn't know it often took the form of a song. That's pretty cute honestly. The whales are actually singing to each other.
The second question is ‘where is nature in music’? In my opinion, there are two ways to look at this. The first way is that humans are ‘natural’ in the sense that we are evolved animals like whales and frogs, and so the songs and music we produce are inherently part of nature’s music. I think this view, while technically true, is less useful because usually we use ‘nature’ to mean non-human.
The other way to look at it is how the natural world inspires human artists in their creation of music. There are tons of examples of this. There are songs that are more abstract in their use of nature, such as “Flight of the Bumblebee” that has no lyrics, but is meant to evoke the seemingly chaotic and rapidly changing flying pattern of a bumblebee. And, there are songs in which people directly talk about their experiences in nature. One of my personal favorites is Green River by Creedence Clearwater revival. It more directly reminds me of my experiences along ponds and rivers talking about the bullfrogs and dragonflies.
Anyway, that's it for this week! What’s your favorite nature song? What song brings you back to nature?
I don't have any pictures of bullfrogs singing, but here's a picture of a leopard frog, they also make mating calls.
References
Gray, Patricia & Krause, Bernie & Atema, Jelle & Payne, Roger & Krumhansl, Carol & Baptista, Luis. (2001). The Music of Nature and the Nature of Music. Science. 291. 52-54.
It is crazy to have a thunderstorm in February, especially for Canada. I think that when it comes to addressing music in nature, the definitions that we have made can be loosened even farther. The purposes of it's creation are no longer based on the creators but on the listeners. Ambient music as a genre is very often interpreting natural samples, and often very little goes changed. In this regard, I have to disagree that this musical ambience isn't music. Music is often interpreted differently depending on the listener, whether it be the story/message or the feeling it conveys. To me, the same applies to whether it is music at all. However, when it comes to definitions it is important to draw the line somewhere, and I can acknowledge that it would be hard to define subjective media. Whales definitely fit the defined criteria though, their songs are made with the intention of communication but are interpreted as musical by us. It reminds me of how some peoples voices alone are enough to tell that they'll be a good singer.
It is a bit of a cop out to consider human made music as natural like you said, but there are natural levels to music in my opinion. If music is completely acapella it is more natural than completely computer generated music. Where instruments like the guitar and piano fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. But I like the explicit use of nature in todays music, especially when it's used to tell a story in or about nature. Like the Flight of the Bumblebee, where no lyrics or samples are brought up, but it's natural influences are still clear.
Great post on this topic!
Natural, Musical
One of the cornerstones of walking through nature is the sound. Anyone who has ever been in nature before knows of the wind whistling in the trees, the birds calls in unison, and that of a river running between various sizes of rock. These sounds combine together to create an iconic collage that is recognizable to almost all. This is where music can be found in nature. They say that music holds some of the strongest memories in humans, and that holds true with environmental interpretations. However, every persons natural environment was different depending on where they grew up. While those in this class would all likely have similar environments to interpret, those from other countries may be completely different. My personal experience includes loon calls, fire crackling, and light waves hitting the shore of my families cottage home. The memory is so strong for me that I can experience it with all 5 senses years later. The smell of smoke, the feel of the sand, the vibrant embers from the fire. However the strongest is the sounds, because of this musical resemblance. I find that since music is just a tool of self expression, other parts of yourself can be perceived musically very easily.
This can be flipped the other way as well, where nature can be used in musical expressions. One of the sounds I left out of my experience up north were the songs my parents would play. Simply hearing the songs they would play their bring me back to hearing the same sounds as I always would. One of the bands they would play all the time was The Tragically Hip, and in the intro of Wheat Kings one of their most popular songs, you can hear that same loon call from on the lake. But the use of nature in music can be less distinct, where in my response to a previous post I mentioned nature samples being used in electronic music. Nature in music can also aid in telling the stories a song is trying to convey, where additional samples can help elicit settings and even lyrics mentioning nature. One example of both of these is in the song Search Party by Jane Remover, which conveys a person running away into a forest and portrays them losing themselves. It uses samples of birds calling, wolves howling and rivers running. It paints a picture of running in the woods through its lyrics, mentioning the feeling of the sun setting so quickly. These natural aspects of storytelling add to the realism of the song, and help to make the listening experience an enjoyable one. This is all for the purpose of invoking feelings in listeners, as Beck et al. (2018). These emotions make them memorable, and can add to the distribution of the message.
But the congregation of nature and music can be used as a more blatant tool, for informative and instructive reasons. Songs are used to teach youth through collective choir, such as songs about environmental science in the Critter Rock songbook program meant to teach children about caves and bats (Beck et al., 2018).
Overall, the use of nature in music and vice versa plays an integral role in how we create settings for the stories told, and can be used to make them far more memorable in the process.
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
The integrity of history
“There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things. …. To think, feel or act as though the past is done with, is equivalent to believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it” (Edward Hyams, Chapter 7, The Gifts of Interpretation).
This quote is challenging to analyze, but this leads to various ways to interpret it. The first half of the quote discusses how there is importance in persevering integrity, and when trying to maintain integrity, we must use our knowledge, memory and ancient things to do so. I believe that this means that history holds integrity and this is why history is studied and remembered through time. When interpreting history there are two main challenges that can occur.
One challenge is accuracy. Any historical interpretation must be presented with respect and with professional integrity to ensure that the listeners are presented with the truth (Beck et al., 2018). This is easier said than done, as there are a lot of factors that can influence the truth. For example, different local cultures may have contradicting interpretations of past events. Your geography and location can also influence how you interpret a historical event. Another challenge with historical interpretation is that it is dynamic and always changing. All of these challenges influence how accurately we interpret history, which in return, can influence the integrity of the history itself (Beck et al., 2018).
Another challenge to historical interpretation is authenticity. Authenticity is extremely important to interpreters as it provides a sense of realism. Gilmore and Pine (2007) did a study that found that consumers want the real thing. Whether this is a painting in a museum, or a perceived artifact. Having the real thing makes a difference in how we interpret history (Beck et al., 2018). Consumers might lose integrity in history if there is no authenticity. Therefore, authenticity creates a challenge with how one may interpret history.
The second part of this quote discusses how history debunks the belief that the past doesn't live on, and in thinking this, you believe that a train station only existed for the time the train was at it. This part of the quote resonates with me as I believe that it is trying to say we must learn from the past. I believe that the best type of learning comes from our past mistakes, and the mistakes of others. Part of the reason history is studied is to not repeat the mistakes of the past. I think that history interpretation ties in well with this part of the quote as it involves the retelling of stories to an audience, provoking the thoughts of others while trying to be inspiring and meaningful (Beck et al., 2018). That is how history is best shared, through meaningful stories that grab the attention of others. I think that relates well to nature interpretation as a lot of the same principles apply. To interpret well, you must be relatable, thought provoking and meaningful. They also intertwine as “every natural site contains a history, and every historical site has a natural resource” (Beck et al., 2018).
I want to end this blog on an abstract question. What do you think would happen if the integrity of history fell apart?
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.
Your analysis of the quote is very similar to mine, where it seemed as though the accuracy and authenticity are prioritized. In my opinion, integrity is defined as exactly that. Your analysis of the second part of the quote is almost exactly what I thought as well. The mistakes of the past help us change the future.
In thinking of the integrity of history though, I am unsure of how much we can truly place in it. Our trust in the authenticity and especially the accuracy of information goes down with every hand it is passed through. This is true for many stories and traditions, it is difficult to determine what the original message was. Which is why we treasure things like the personal journals of important historical figures, confirmed with handwriting analysis and more.
The same can be true with trusting the authenticity of knowledge or history decreasing dependent on who the originator is. The most reminiscent quote to represent this is about how "history is written by the victors". Ancient historians are largely biased by their affiliations, and for that reason a large amount of our integrity and trust in their stories is lost.
However, with the digital age we may expect this to change. Integrity can be establish as many people viewing and recording the same event, and personal records are much better stored in time.
So, to answer your question on what would occur if the integrity of history fell apart, it somewhat already has. The only thing we can truly know for certain is the here and now. If it completely fell apart we would have to begin again right here, and create integrity that the future can hopefully have in us.
Ancient Things
There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, the past is simply the past. When it comes to interpretation, the past can act as a tool, used to change how the present is enacted. As mentioned in the textbook, stories of survivors become agents for change (Beck et al., 2018). But is there a merit to it? Ancient things cannot accept awards, what's done is done. But the agent of change is now useful, there is integrity in their stories.
Integrity has merit. It is one of the only things that we can hold onto when all else is lost. Yet what does integrity include? One such thing is the truth, an honest person is one with integrity. This honesty must hold true in our agents stories, as accuracy and authenticity are key contributors in how a story is interpreted (Beck et al., 2018). Mistaken stories often come from those inauthentic to the message, and are hence told inaccurately.
But what are these stories together, how does each part play into the greater picture? Each part is a key piece in the puzzle, integrity must be held at each part. But, it also must be held by those putting the puzzle together. In order to maintain the authenticity and accuracy needed, the one to put the puzzle together must have a deep understanding of our so called 'ancient things'.
"There is no peculiar merit in ancient things, but there is merit in integrity, and integrity entails the keeping together of the parts of any whole, and if these parts are scattered throughout time, then the maintenance of integrity entails a knowledge, a memory, of ancient things."
The way that interpreted the first part of this quote is with the importance of the full story. Throughout the 15th chapter of the textbook they consistently highlight the importance of maintaining accuracy and authenticity in the reporting of historical content. The quote reminds me of this again, where ancient things must be maintained in the same way to be properly interpreted. However, establishing merit can be difficult, and the merit is not in the ancient things themselves, but the people who continue to tell the story today.
This is because, to think, feel, or act as though the past is done with lacks foresight. This thought can be compared with another more common quote by George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This quote tells a similar story. The remnants of our past are great indicators as to what the future holds, or even the meaning of what we're seeing now.
For example, believing that a railway station through which our train has just passed, only existed for as long as our train was in it. This belief lacks foresight as to what the future holds, as there will be more train stations just like those you've passed up ahead. It also highlights meaning in the present, where someone can establish meaning in repetitive train stations only because of their past experiences.
Overall, this whole quote touches on subjects of why we record and tell history. It conveys how accuracy can enhances the quality and meaning of the past, as well as why these ancient things should have meaning in the first place.
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
Exploring the World
As a teenager, I embarked on a journey to Hawaii that would forever change my perspective on nature's beauty and diversity. The lush landscapes, pristine beaches, and vibrant marine life captivated my senses, leaving an indelible mark on my soul.
My first glimpse of Hawaii's breathtaking scenery was from the plane window as we descended into Honolulu. The emerald green mountains, fringed by cascading waterfalls and enveloped in mist, seemed like something out of a dream. Stepping onto the tarmac, I felt the warm embrace of the tropical air, infused with the scent of flowers and saltwater.
One of the highlights of my trip was exploring the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve on Oahu. Snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters, I was greeted by a kaleidoscope of colorful fish darting among coral reefs. It was like entering a bustling underwater metropolis, where every inhabitant played a vital role in the ecosystem's harmony.
Venturing inland, I hiked through lush rainforests, where towering banyan trees formed natural cathedrals, their aerial roots reaching down like ancient sentinels. I marveled at the symphony of bird calls and the iridescent plumage of native species flitting among the branches.
On the island of Maui, I witnessed the raw power of nature at Haleakalā National Park. Standing atop the volcanic summit at sunrise, I watched as the first rays of light illuminated the otherworldly landscape below. The surreal beauty of the barren crater, etched with colorful striations, left me awestruck.
But perhaps the most profound experience was encountering Hawaii's indigenous culture and its deep connection to the land. Learning about the ancient Hawaiian concept of aloha ‘āina (love for the land), I gained a newfound appreciation for the importance of environmental stewardship and conservation.
As I bid farewell to Hawaii, I carried with me memories of its untamed beauty and the sense of wonder it inspired. My teenage journey had been a transformative odyssey through nature's bounty, reminding me of the intricate tapestry of life that exists beyond the confines of everyday existence
There is something very profound about exploring, it's a feeling incomparable to anything else. You mention all of Hawaii's best aspects, from its beautiful mountains to its diverse sea life. In exploring, Hawaii is just a small portion of our globe. Yet, it seemed to change you so much. Those memories that you continue to hold onto will never leave, however it is truly only the beginning. There are so many other places in the world to explore that are equally as stunning, but in other crazy ways. For example, one of my bucket list places is the Galapagos Islands. In many ways, Hawaii and the Galapagos are very similar, both being Pacific Archipelagos. But each place has had millions of years in its own environment to grow and become unique. Even in these two very similar places, the experience is anew. My point is that your post exhibits every aspect of what makes exploring nature so great. The bubble that we usually live in is so small compared to everything that there is to offer. Thank you for the illuminating recreation of the mind of an explorer!
Science in Nature Interpretation
Even though there is no prompt for this weeks blog posts, I felt that the title of the unit resonated with me. Science has always been a major passion of mine, and science is likely one of the most common mediums for nature interpretation. There are many different fields of scientific discovery fully focused on the natural world, such as ecology, zoology, botany and more. Even anthropology has roots in different natural environments, where a anthropologist must acknowledge the environment a culture grows in. As there are so many different fields, an important aspect of science must be to maintain a consistent nomenclature of understanding. Names of things must be the same regardless of field, so that when a scientist or anyone for that matter reads a paper, they can immediately distinguish what they are talking about. Their is an elegance to this work, differing fields each have their own societies of experts that decide on the proper names. Almost all of these fields follow some kind of Linnaean classification, which follows a hierarchy of levels of relatedness. This allows for the very large pool of plants, animals, and fungi alike to be classified efficiently. However, this wasn't always the case. Taxonomy, or the study of classification could be considered one of the oldest forms of science. It was first practiced by Aristotle, who separated living things into two categories, plants and animals. This classification was taken and advanced by his students, to give us more and more in depth analysis of their anatomies and histories. Some used these classifications to prop up and put down certain species, claiming some more primitive than others. This shows something that is very common throughout human history, it is almost human nature to classify everything into various categories and boxes. We saw this in the privilege section of the blog, where some people can be looked over due to preconceived boxes we have put them in. But these boxes are usually surface level, there is commonly much more to get the whole picture. One such example is from the TED talk "for the Love of Birds", where Washington Wachira highlights the many differences of feathermakers. He mentions that only one class of animals on earth can make feathers, birds. But as the talk continues, he goes over the many ways that birds are different. From the vulture to the bald eagle to the guinea fowl to the penguin, all of these animals are within the same bird classification, and yet all of them are majorly different. This brings me back to my main love of science, as it cannot always be interpreted the same way. In the way that science wants to classify things into categories, those categories cannot always be the same for everyone. The take home message from this idea, is that the scientific lens will not always hold the correct interpretation of nature, and it is important to constantly be thinking outside of the boxes.
Art and Nature Interpretation
When thinking about who I am in regards to interpretation of nature through art, I think of both what my skills and understandings of the field are, and what types of interpretation I personally enjoy. I enjoy viewing and creating art in general, but I especially like art that incorporates nature in some way. I have a moderate understanding the decision-making process in art and how people convey meaning through their works. Much of this understanding of art comes from my partner who is finishing up a studio art degree and is a very talented artist. They mostly create art that includes some sort of nature interpretation and often discuss the reasonings behind their process and decision making with me, which is where most of my knowledge comes from.
Untitled Generator 1, 2023 by my partner Maddy Cohen (@madsc_arts on Instagram)
I also think I have a good understanding of nature interpretation through music. I have enjoyed playing music for most of my life, and I really enjoy learning about songwriting and composition which allows me to understand how people use music to interpret whatever they are interested in conveying. Every small decision made, melody used, or style of production can give insight into what specific message an artist is trying to interpret. Especially more experienced or skilled artists can accurately translate their feelings or understanding of nature through their music in a way that is both easily consumed and understood while also implying deeper meanings. Most of my favorite music includes some sort of nature interpretation. For example, my favourite band Ween has an album based on their time living by the sea and how they interpret the feelings elicited by the coast and the ocean. I also create a lot of my own music, and regularly try translating my understanding of nature or feeling of connection to nature through music.
The Mollusk by Ween
One of my favorite forms of nature interpretation through art is the use of nature documentaries. I find that these give an intimate look into aspects of nature that I would probably never witness personally. Documentaries tend to provide really eye-catching and inspiring visuals, while also weaving together a narrative about what is being shown to deepen the ease of understanding and messaging conveyed in their work.
A picture I drew of how I envision nature on a strange planet
Well-made art is designed to convey some sort of feeling or message, and one really common form of this is interpreting beauty. I tend to think of beauty as a reflection of the appealing aspects of nature, and the things that I see as beautiful are generally heavily inspired by nature or are natural themselves. I definitely agree with the sentiment that interpretation should focus on translating the beauty of nature to an audience (Beck et al., 2018). Showing people how to perceive the beauty around them is a great way to provide people with the gift of beauty (Beck et al., 2018). For example, my partner is quite obsessed with finding cool mushrooms, and whenever we go hiking, they will constantly point out cool ones to me and tell me some interesting things about that mushroom. This has developed into me becoming quite fond of mushrooms too, and now whenever I walk outside, I am constantly noticing all the cool mushrooms around me and feeling excited to find them. Before meeting my partner, I had never really noticed or appreciated this aspect of nature’s beauty, but I now have a great appreciation for it. This shows how passion for a subject and an ability to interpret that to others can provide the gift of beauty to another person.
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing
Hey Daniel, very interesting post!
I touched lightly on the different types of mediums someone could use to interpret nature, but you went in depth with examples. I have never tried to create art myself, so I can't envision how difficult it was to make the art from both you and your partner. The interesting thing to me is that they each convey two very different emotions, where one feels more sad and mellow, the other feels exotic and unknown. I can especially relate to your love of music though, as I listen to a lot. One thing I didn't bring up in my original post that you reminded me of, is how samples can play into nature interpretation in art. Where the nature isn't the forefront of the story, but a sound is used to elicit the feelings of nature. This can be done in films or songs, I can think of lots of movie where I have heard a wolf's howl or a loons call. Both of these used to show the unsettling or vastness of nature. In songs samples can be blatant or hidden, one of my favourite examples of this is a song called Chlorophyll by Villager. When anything conductive is connected at two ends by an amp, you can hear how the sound flows through it. In this song, some of the samples are processed through houseplants. The sounds become atmospheric and ethereal, and while it is not a pure interpretation of nature in art, it certainly has used the natural world in an artistic, and interpretive way.
If you want to listen to what some of these samples sound like, a pack of them can be found here.
Rubicon presents Plant Music & Granular Performances: a experimental sample pack. Preview and download all 199 samples on Splice.
Who am I to Interpret Nature?
It is a profound question for any topic, what makes me the ideal fit for anything. What makes a person suitable for interpreting nature? I believe the question answers itself, any person can interpret nature. It is a key part of life itself, we have all at some point in our life felt at awe with our world. There are many different experiences that could elicit such a reaction. However, reaching that same feeling through art is much more difficult. I believe that with enough care, a talented artist can accurately depict these feelings, and bring nature to life in artistic means.
Beck et al., (2018) mentions many ways that an interpreter can use art to convey nature, such as in the lyrics of songs, the movements of dance, or the story of a theatre drama. I believe that in each of these categories it is important to maintain the essentials of interpretation discussed in previous blog posts, by understanding your audience and conveying the bigger picture. This helps to mitigate effects proposed by Beck et al., (2018) where audiences can be excluded if they lack the proper background to appreciate what they are viewing. These methods make great tools for teaching important environmental topics as well, such as the US army promoting safe water drinking through posters and artistic events (Beck et al., 2018). This example shows an interpretation being used as a tool, and stresses the importance of the job interpreters have.
But returning to who I am to interpret art through nature, it is clear that everyone has differing definition and interpretations of what good art is. That is why it is so hard for me to put on a scale, art is subjective. However, if there was one way to quantify it, I believe that good art would always have some sense of the "gift of beauty". The gift of beauty to me is the ability an interpretation has to create the same feeling beauty in the real world creates in you. However, I feel that while this definition fits the original intention of Beck and Cable (2011), it is missing an important distinction. Natural interpretation through art has been used to convey many other messages without beauty just as successfully. Images depicting political messages and ancient battles may not elicit a beautiful response from viewers, but they tell an important story at the same time. In Cable and Beck's exact words, the gift of beauty "provide spiritual uplift and encourages resource preservation." I argue that political messages can encourage resource preservation, and ancient battles tell a story as to which we can be taught not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
To conclude my thoughts on artistic nature interpretation, I must remind that everyones interpretations are different. As discussed previously our invisible backpack is full of different things for everyone, and this contributes to the art we make as well. So while my thoughts on the gift of beauty are correct to me, they do not accurately represent everyone else's. It's an important reminder of the differences in privilege and experience we each have.
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing.
03: Plants, Ponds, Petals, Pebbles, and Privilege
This week, I will be discussing the role privilege plays in nature interpretation. While at first glance, one may (naively) think, ‘Well, we can all interpret nature. Just step outside!’ there is more than meets the eye. My understanding of privilege is that it is a special advantage that makes opportunities more easily available for specific persons; more often than not, individuals are born with a certain level of privilege. Various details of an individual play into privilege; some of the more prevailing aspects (but not limited to) include culture, gender identity, race, and socioeconomic status.
For society to bridge the gap between more privileged and less privileged, at an absolute minimum, we as individuals should recognize the attributes and opportunities we have access to. In other words, as Peggy McIntosh may say, we should unpack our invisible backpacks. That is, we carry a weightless and ‘invisible’ backpack that gives access to opportunities; the irony being the backpack is by no means invisible (Hooykaas, 2024). Reflecting on my ‘invisible’ backpack, I am a white, middle-class, English-speaking university student with Canadian citizenship. As a result of my backpack, I have had opportunities that are not remotely equally available to everyone.
I believe a pertinent privilege, and thus also a barrier, that plays into nature interpretation stems from one’s socioeconomic status. Access to education, technology, and transportation are all aspects that would allow for preferable nature interpretation. However, these all require a level of income that can be spent on recreational purposes, which we all do not have. As a result, people who have lower socioeconomic status will be less likely to participate; this is often called the Marginality Theory (Beck et al., 2018). As some of us consider a career in nature interpretation, moreover as our generation will eventually be the majority of working age, we must do what we can to reduce such economic barriers. For example, in the case of providing nature interpretation, we should consider providing transportation, or better yet, bringing nature interpretation to people where they can learn about their local environment (Beck et al., 2018).
One’s physical status is another significant privilege, particularly to nature interpretation. Do you have able legs that can walk you through the intricate and sometimes harsh environments on our planet? Do you have able eyes that allow you to see the detailed aesthetics of nature while avoiding the potential harms of large bodies of water and coyote interactions? Can you hear the woodpeckers pecking? Can you smell the often distinct sweetness of sap in pine trees? I fortunately can say yes to each of these questions, however I can imagine that without having these physical abilities, an individual's ability to interpret nature would lessen. Again, as some of us consider a career in nature interpretation, such privileges should be taken into consideration. For instance, there could be more implementation of nature interpretation for people who are blind, including in-depth descriptions and more integration of touching features such as leaves, sand, flowers, and more.
Thanks for tuning in this week!
References
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage for a better world. Sagamore-Venture.
Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 03: Risk versus Reward in Interpretation [Lecture notes]. Courselink.
Hello! Great Post!
I enjoyed reading and agree with most, if not all of what you are talking about. Your backpack contains most of the same qualities that mine would, but I think that it is unfair to say that we are the same. That is one issue that could arise from the backpack ideology, where an attempt to prove that we do not truly know what others have experienced backfires and is used as a classification tool. It is important for all of us to understand that regardless of how similar we all are, every persons backpack is different, and you cannot judge someone by the things that you think they have in it. These experiences can be as light and seemingly inconsequential as the smell of pine you gave as an example. However, that smell would greatly influence how we as nature interpreters go about our job. I compare two people who are from the same town, and as such their backpack says so. But every town has good and bad sides, rich and poor areas. Each house has a different tree in it's front yard, if yours is pine then that smell would stick with you. I feel as though the backpack metaphor for privilege is just a larger metaphor for life, which goes about the trials and tribulations that made you who you are today. In the text, they mention that African Americans in part don't go to national parks out of fear. Not every experience in the backpack is a good one, and even with access to natural spaces, not all people will want to utilize them due to their past. Privilege shows not just in the opportunity but in the experiences, because some things are hard to forget and leave behind.
Privilege in Nature Interpretation
Privilege in nature interpretation is similar to that of privilege elsewhere, it is usually entirely random and out of ones control. My own interpretation of privilege is where luck creates opportunity. This is in the sense that a privileged individual is given greater opportunities on the sole grounds of what they were born into. I had the privilege of being born in Canada, a country with many opportunities to succeed. In the lens of nature interpretation, Canada allows many opportunities with its diverse landscape that visitors and locals alike are willing to pay to experience. This opportunity isn't available in countries or places that people do not want to visit, very few people want an interpreted tour of Iqaluit, while loads of people want a tour of Niagara Falls. Through nothing other than chance (and privilege), an interpreter in Niagara is going to have a better chance at a successful career. Being able to be raised in an area also enhances skills needed to be an interpreter, such as identification of local wildlife/flora. These opportunities are excellent examples of privilege at work. However, another large part of privilege is money. Money creates opportunity the easiest, where it works to improve chances of success as buying the best tools and training. It also works to create time, by allowing potential interpreters more leeway in finding careers and staying afloat. There is a stereotype that all rich people pursue art as a hobby, which exhibits an idea that without the need for money to survive we would all crave creative and fulfilling jobs. This is also showcased in interpretation, which can create worrisome dynamics. If most interpreters are from affluent and privileged backgrounds we lose diversity in how we interpret, and become worse interpreters by doing so. This diversity of opinions relates to the textbook, where it mentions that no audience is common. Visitors are likely to be of different backgrounds and knowledge levels, so it is important for an interpreter to versed in interacting with these people. For our privileged person, it is likely that they have travelled the world, seen many places, and spoken to many people. While a less privileged person has likely never left the country before, only experiencing the locality around them. These discrepancies further add to the divide in how privilege impacts nature interpretation.
To conclude, nature interpretation is not outside the scope of privilege, and is still majorly backed by those with the privilege to push it forward. However, this is not to say that these people are bad at what they do. But they lack a truly diverse understanding as to all potential interpretations, due to barriers in cost/experience. Barriers that they themselves didn't have to face, due to their own privilege.
My Role as an Interpreter
When thinking of my ideal role as an interpreter of the environment, my interests in exotic and unique animals, and my own learning preferences towards auditory and visual learning, lead me to the position of a zoo keeper/tour guide. In this role, I would be able to use my knowledge about the diverse range of animals held at zoos to teach others and incite interest in wildlife that they likely would have never seen elsewhere.
The type of interpretation and teaching style that is used by zoo keepers is mostly auditory as they give presentations to the audience that attend the zoo. Good communication and leadership skills are needed to manage the crowds of people who come through a zoo each day. To gain the interest of the visitors I could tell stories about the feats the animals are capable of performing. Such as the geese that can travel thousands of kilometres to migrate for the winter, and spend days without rest. Or tell the crowd about the predators with the strength to take down large animals and paint the picture that excites the crowd most. This would be in line with Mill’s style of interpretation that appeals to the imagination to give life to the information that is being taught. By describing what the animals are capable of, the visitors can link the living beings that they see in front of them with the information and facts about how they live their lives in the wild, even if they aren't seeing it first-hand. This effectively links the intangible of knowing what they can do with the tangible of the individual animal.
Verbal presentations, even combined with the presence of the animals would likely not be enough to encourage fulfilling interpretation, so more visual and physical forms of conveying information would complement the information presented. This could be done through the use of plaques and boards that have written stories and information as well as pictures and diagrams to be viewed. Other permanent displays or physical models could also be used to encourage self-discovery and learning by the visitors, as well as offer multiple sensory approaches to learning about the information being presented. This together with presentations and answering questions will also promote repetition which can effectively facilitate the retention of knowledge and create a more stimulating interpretation-based environment.
It would be important that each educational program be specially designed around the species being presented to best enhance the strong points of experiencing the animal's unique characteristics. If an animal is friendly or socialized with humans, then they might be able to tolerate a higher amount of hands-on learning with visitors being able to gain first-person accounts where they can interact with the animal directly. Other animals that might be endangered or at risk might benefit from putting more emphasis on their importance in nature and what can be done to help them.
My ideal role as an environmental interpreter would not only educate but also inspire individuals to appreciate the wonders of the animal kingdom. Having a varied approach to nature interpretation can cause visitors to think differently about the animals they see at the zoo, and may even inspire them to view the nature they see outside of exhibits in a new light as well.
The idea of a zoo keeper being an interpreter was not something I initially thought of. It got me thinking as to whether you would stop there, or whether you could also consider the designers of the enclosures and pathways to be interpreters as well. Since they plan out enclosures and paths in specifically intended ways, I feel that they are. They could portray very little with a blank slate or create the local environment of the animals to enhance the experience created by the guide. I like the idea that enclosures contain boards and plaques, however I feel as though the plaques should be arranged in a specific way as well. This would allow audiences to move and flow in the intended way without having to directly lead them. A zoo keeper would have to have very strong improvisational skills, as any questions or remarks would have to be answered in an entertaining way. It seems as though the job is both about interpreting nature and entertaining guests.
