Now THAT is Evidence: Tracking Down the Evil “€Whatever” Interpretation

This paper was presented as part of a Keynote Address at the Visitor Studies Association Conference, July 2006, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Speaker Cheryl Meszaros, director of public programs at the Vancouver Art Museum, presents a brief historical overview of interpretation, identifying "endangered aspects of interpretation," as well as a brief history of interpretive practices in museums that culminate in "whatever" interpretation, in which we say one thing but do the opposite.