Blog Post 06: Unpacking Edward Hyams Quote, and How it Relates to Us Today
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)
It is funny how we think we know a lot about something, until we are given a different perspective or narrative. When I first started this course, I knew very little about nature interpretation. In fact, I had barely ever heard of it. After the last 6 weeks, I have learned about nature interpretation itself, how it influenced my childhood and path in life, how it relates to privilege, science, and art, and much more. I considered myself somewhat knowledgeable, because I was thinking about how I would relate all that I have learned so far into my future as a nature interpreter. When I thought about nature interpretation, I was primarily thinking of how it relates to the present and the future. In fact, when I thought about it in relation to the past, I was only thinking about my own personal history, not the role an interpreter plays in actually sharing about history itself.
Edward Hyams quote provides us with what it means for something to have historical significance, and how interpretation allows for that to happen. When he is discussing integrity, he is referring to its preservation. How is an object, an event, or a person's legacy preserved? Through interpretation. Think about a store, filled with a bunch of different items. Except nothing has any information, titles, or dates, even the store does not have a name. Now, think about that same store, except it is now disclosed as an antique store. Every item is explained; what it is, where it came from, how old it is, the purpose it served, etc. Now, you have the ability to learn, the ability to understand the history of the item and why it was important. There was no peculiar merit in those objects, yet once they were interpreted for you, there is a memory to be unlocked, knowledge to be had.
When deciphering the second part of the quote, it made me think about how we perceive our landscapes. The railway station metaphor is alluding to people only reflecting on their immediate experience. As climate change continues to be a pressing issue, this metaphor relates to the divide our society faces. A growing standpoint is acting now to mitigate the effects of climate change, for us, but also for our future generations. Others still have the belief that nothing extreme will happen in their lifetime, so they prioritize short term benefits for themselves, such as overconsumption of greenhouse gases, knowing it will negatively affect others in the future. This relates back to the discussion in the textbook Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage: For a Better World, about ‘truth’ and how it can be hard to navigate in interpretation (Beck et al, 2018). What if people have different versions of the ‘truth’? When discussing climate change in the future, some will refer back to it as a crucial turning point in our history, while others will not deem it historically relevant at all. As interpreters, we must navigate the fine line between truth, and opinion.
Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing, Sagamore Venture.
