The hermeneutics of transpacific assemblages

This paper introduces the hermeneutics of globalisation to venture beyond political and economic overdetermination. More specifically, I set out to inspect the interpretive complexity of the hermeneutics of transpacific assemblages, namely the surplus of interpretations in a transforming world, which entangles linguistic, cultural, historical and political dimensions in a complex web of negotiations. This paper sets the theoretical and methodological scene for future research on particular empirical realities. The ultimate goal outlined here is the development of an understanding, explanation and critique of actually existing transpacific assemblages as lived and interpreted phenomena. I conclude by introducing the theme &lsquo;cultural heritage&rsquo; and its ongoing construction, deconstruction and reconstruction within and beyond museums to dissect the endless hermeneutic becoming, emerging and making of transpacific forms of life.<br /

What does a museum mean? A narrative approach to museum impact

This paper presents &lsquo;narrative&rsquo; as a theoretically informed qualitative perspective to explore and substantiate such abstract concept as &lsquo;museum impact&rsquo;. It argues that the impact of museums is best understood via the meanings visitors make and negotiate in the long-term. This provides critical insights into what a museum visit means and how its impact is negotiated within time and space. I lay out the theoretical rationale and methodological approach for the research project underpinning this paper while future publications will provide empirical findings and theoretical conclusions

Contact Zones, Third Spaces, and the Act of Interpretation

The conceptual understanding of museums as ‘contact zones’ has been widely appropriated in the museum literature and beyond. But the discussion lacks empirical insights into actual experiences: What does ‘contact’ mean for the person experiencing it? How is it lived, negotiated and contested? Drawing on a long-term narrative study of global visitors to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa), this paper offers an empirical interrogation and theoretical refinement of the ‘contact zone’. It moves beyond the more usual focus on museological production by shedding light on the meanings made by museum visitors. This paper augments current normative and theoretical approaches with an ethnographic study of processes of intercultural mediation during cross-cultural encounters, translation and dialogue. This is done through a hermeneutic analysis of visitors’ acts of interpretation that facilitates an understanding of ‘cultural action’ in ‘contact zones’ as an interpretive ontological endeavour of the shifting Self within a pluralist cosmopolitan space

Contact zones, third spaces, and the act of interpretation

The conceptual understanding of museums as &lsquo;contact zones&rsquo; has been widely appropriated in the museum literature and beyond. But the discussion lacks empirical insights into actual experiences: What does &lsquo;contact&rsquo; mean for the person experiencing it? How is it lived, negotiated and contested? Drawing on a long-term narrative study of global visitors to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa), this paper offers an empirical interrogation and theoretical refinement of the &lsquo;contact zone&rsquo;. It moves beyond the more usual focus on museological production by shedding light on the meanings made by museum visitors. This paper augments current normative and theoretical approaches with an ethnographic study of processes of intercultural mediation during cross-cultural encounters, translation and dialogue. This is done through a hermeneutic analysis of visitors&rsquo; acts of interpretation that facilitates an understanding of &lsquo;cultural action&rsquo; in &lsquo;contact zones&rsquo; as an interpretive ontological endeavour of the shifting Self within a pluralist cosmopolitan space