Date of Award
5-2007
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA Museum Professions
Department
Communication and the Arts
Advisor
Janet Marstine
Keywords
Living history, Museums, Second person interpretation
Abstract
Living history is a very interesting yet volatile topic within the museum field. Since its conception, living history techniques have evolved to include the visitor in ways that ordinary museums have historically been unable to do. Second person interpretation is one such advancement and can be an exciting opportunity for the visitor to "step back in time" and experience life as it once was. However, as this study will demonstrate, it is extremely difficult and virtually impossible to replicate historic environments and conditions, thus leaving living history sites to focus more on the present day and its connections to the past. This philosophy of creating and sustaining relevancy to contemporary issues can produce powerful results and is the main focal point within this study.
Recommended Citation
Harwell, Alex, "The Play's the Thing: Combining Cognitive Reenactnment with Civic Engagement to Create Effective Living History Site Learning" (2007). Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). 2370.
https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2370
