ABSTRACT
Fashion and ideas affect the business of Interpretation just as they affect so many others. Some years ago the slogan was The fewer words the better’: an exhibition that consisted solely of visual images made, it was believed, few demands on the Visitor, and demonstrated the virtuosity of the Interpreter. More recently, the favourite has been ‘Interpretation should be fun.’ At first hearing, both seem to demonstrate a Visitorfriendly approach, but both maxims (as is usual with generalisations) were hopelessly, even disastrously, misleading advice for any wouldbe Interpreter not in the habit of thinking much. Imagine what Dr Joad would have made of the second of these. ‘It all depends’, he would have said, ‘what you mean by “interpretation”, what you mean by “fun”, and what you mean by “should be”.’
