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Brian Alvarez is going to lead this blog discussion. You all know what to do after that. Thanks, Brian.
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Catalytic Mapping Seminar
How Inventive, Specific Maps Teach Us ABout the Systems in Which We Find Ourselves
Catalytic Mapping Seminar 
5 Comments
Visualization of complex data in the twenty first century is being compared to the photography and film of the twentieth century in Beautiful Evidence. Now a days, we understand photography and films like they are part of our everyday but visualization of complex of data is still foreign to us in an extent. According to the reading the time to understand this idea has arrived and the book “Visual Complexity” is the first among many that will help us understand it. It also explains for what I understand is that there are many phases of date just like films and photography have gone through. We used to think of this medium as pi charts and simple charts but with the introduction of different technologies it has evolved.
Although it has evolved, we are still trying to represent this data the same way we used to. In the reading it talks about how we try to identify this new medium in 3 categories – science, design or art. The author proposes the idea of identifying visualization culture as a thing of its own, defined by all three categories. I agree with the proposal because I believe this new medium is involved in every category as he explains. This new medium is starting to help discover and understand new and olds things in different ways which is why it belongs in the science category. It is also helping us create new ways to understand the work in a particular and unique way to evoke emotions that reach out to the audience. This new medium does not always reveal an understanding or a new idea but sometimes it can create something abstract and aesthetically pleasing. When this happens, it can be placed in the art category. I also believe networks are something that is not static but something is continually growing and evolving.
Does categorizing this new medium help the individual understand it more or does it stop the evolution of the medium?
As I have begun to really zero in on in the past few weeks, I think mapping and graphical representation of data has a very strong link to science. Whether it is Tufte, Tang, or Lima, I think all three would agree that we have evolved to the point to be able to acknowledge the relationship between science, design, and art. Science for Discovery, Design for Creation, and Art for Aesthetic and Philosophical appeal to our senses. I strongly agree that there is a new medium that has revealed itself that we amoungst others must attempt to conform too, but the beauty of this create is that it does not filter or constrain. Its a guideline, framework, and process all while still being free, truthful, and independant.
To answer your question Brian, I believe that we have to categorize it to understand it. As I revealed and you discussed, each field and aspect of the up-to-date unfolding graphical representations helps to supply its very escence. Without acknowledging each portion you take away the legs that a successful representation needs to stand on. This is similar to what Tufte was saying by defining what a representation needs to convey and similar to Lynch attempting to define cities. The definitions and catigories will likely change and evolve, making our current assesement antiquated and inaccurate… however that is apart of the process. This is apart of the growth. By catigorizing and defining we discover the truths behind the process and can assess what is wrong while gaining a better understanding of what is right. This perpetuates the evolution.
It seems that only by defining things do we start to separate and categorize them. A flower is a flower, but is it a dicot or a monocot? A building is a building, but is it residential or commercial? The vocabulary reveals the smaller components and types of the thing. This can be said of maps and graphic representations. In coming years we as a population may see more of the digital installations and the graphic representations which truly speak to our culture. And then we, as human beings, will begin to dissect their components, purposes, relations, etc. and then sort them into various typologies.
I agree with Corey in that the medium has several potentials to fall into each category and really is comprised of all of these subjects to create something truly meaningful and useful to our culture. The balance of these values (discovery, creation and philosophy, as Corey related it) is what gives the medium its power to truly inform and inspire action and contemplation.
In my opinion categorizing the medium is an attempt to provide it with simplicity and direction, which at times can be a helpful method. More often than not I find it to also be a limitation to the possibilities that surround the medium. Why color inside the lines if we do not have to, rather explore the boundaries of the medium and discover through the act of creation!
In that sense I believe that creating limitations, and working without limitations are both effective methods of surfacing ideas and thoughts about the medium itself.
All these principles are ways of determining a scene and simplifying what’s good and what’s not. Minard graphic is easily read and I like the way he transition from dates, temperatures, months, locations and death rates. Its self-readable and easy to understand. Makes it simple and proves the point that he is trying to release. This is an overall productive graphic of the Russian Campaign of 1812-1823.
-Manny