Museum audio description

The problem of textual fidelity

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12183451
AutoresRachel Hutchinson (University of Westminster, autor correspondente), Rachel S Hutchinson (University of Westminster), Alison F Eardley (0000-0002-6036-9817, University of Westminster)
Ano2018
Volume27
Fascículo1
Páginas42-57
Data de publicação2018-05-16
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPerspectives (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0907-676X • E-ISSN: 1747-6623
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0907676x.2018.1473451
OpenAlexW2797762934
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas19
Referências citadas45

Museums present a myriad of source texts, which are often highly ambiguous. Yet museum audio description (AD) is sited in an AD tradition that advocates objectivity. In screen AD, researchers have examined multiple aspects of the translation decisions facing the describer-translator, considering the ways in which AD is shaped by the demands of the source text, the impact of AD on the recipient's experience and how these aspects may relate to objectivity. We examine the extent to which these decisions may apply to museum AD or differ in a museum setting. We argue that the notion of the ‘source text’ for museums should be expanded beyond the visual elements of museums’ collections, encompassing the wider museum visiting experience. Drawing upon research from museum studies and psychology, we explore the empirical evidence that characterises the experiences of mainstream sighted visitors and discuss the implications for museum AD. If it is to offer true access to the museum experience, then museum AD must consider not only the assimilation of visual information, but also the social, cognitive and emotional elements of visits. From this perspective, the emphasis is shifted from visual to verbal translation to the creative possibilities of re-creation in museum AD

Art · Epistemology · Fidelity · Mainstream · Objectivity (philosophy · Political science · Sociology · Visual arts · Computer Science · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Psychology · Subtitles and Audiovisual Media · Visual Culture and Art Theory