Styles of First-Person Interpretation by Charles Knutson

Contents Introduction and Bylaws Interpretive Clothing Scottish Culture History Music and Dance Military Life Language Bibliography, Sources and Library Materials

There are two primary styles of first-person interpretation: Documentary interpretation. The portrayal of an actual historical figure. This is used at some historic sites such as Plymouth Plantation where the interpreters portray the known, historical inhabitants of the settlement. For example, you could research John Knox, his life and writings and portray Knox himself. At times, it is closer to acting than interpretation. It does has some advantages: It does not require you to invent a life history from scratch. Personal writings of the person, or actual events can be presented in skit form for educational purposes. It provides a very solid historical backing because you do not have to "make up" anything. It is all based on a documented, real life. But, it also has disadvantages: Detailed research is required to know the details of your subject's life and attitudes. It can require learning information which may hold little interest for you. Ben Franklin should know about printing -it was his trade. Someone more knowledgeable may eventually show up and challenge your interpretation. If you are trying to realistically portray a specific year, you have to try not to present things that have not yet happened in your "life". Yet, you should still know enough about them to answer questions that may arise. Eventually you become physically too old to be that person during the year portrayed. Representative Interpretation. This is the style that the Clann practices. We portray fictional personas that are based on our historical research. You create a character that could have been real. This allows the most flexibility, or creativity in your character. It still requires plenty of research to be done properly, but, being able to create the persona from scratch allows you to focus on your personal interests, talents, or crafts. The danger, of course, is straying from the history, and letting too much imagination create your persona. It is certainly possible to use both styles and create a fictional persona that is firmly based on an actual historical figure. For example, someone could research Colonel John Hepburn, who served under Gustavus Adolphus, and base their persona on Hepburn's life. Through the simple expedient of using a different name than "Hepburn" you are free to custom-design details of the persona to include your interests or information you wish to teach to our visitors.