User:Zpalomagar/THESIS OUTLINE/THIRD DRAFT

THIRD DRAFT

>>>>>THIS IS NOT THE MOST RECENT VERSION<<<<<<

I. Introduction

Background: Cartography was an instrument of power and domination, they used to define the territory and draw its borders and resources. In the vein of Denis Wood, John Pickles, and J. B. Harley, this paper places itself within the strand of critical cartography that emerged in the 1980s with the aim to redefine the concept of mapping by analysing maps as creative and ideological constructions making reality as much as representing it, shaping the political identities of the people inhabiting it.

Late 90’s Mark Lombardi, narrative structures that describe inconvenient stories about bank, corruption and crimes. He wanted to create a unifying element to understand the whole. He introduced topographies of Power. (Öyvind Fahlström???)

Statement: Diagrams, cartographies and maps can be transformed into socio-political communication tools which empower communities and give visibility to their common interests, revealing hidden information and making the reader raise awareness about the social crisis. This mechanism challenges the traditional storytelling becoming a technological design instrument that spread knowledge through visual global language.

II. Body of thesis

Topic 1: Anatomy of counter-cartographies ( visual language, codes, elements…)

• Coding/ decoding information - translation process
  • The grammar of the visual language (Semiology of graphics) Jaques Bertin - the problem of modern cartography are not related to the accuracy of the measures but centre on the graphic transcription of the data. ( variables of visual elements in maps )
  • Pictographic grammar (Bureau d’Études)
  • Visual language is a powerful instrument to Popularise information and make societies gain awareness (Otto Neurath The museum of society and economy - Working class in the museum)
• Interpretation /readability/ levels of complexity
  • Alfred Korzybsky - “The map is not the territory” the language create a map used by people to represent the reality that is perceived.
  • Jan Tschichold - “as a rule, we no longer read quietly line by line, but glance quickly over the whole, and only if our interests are awakened do the study in detail” —Micro -Macro readings —
• Role of software when making visual representations: Mapping (interpretation) vs tracing (reproduction)
  • Wester supremacy in technological visual translations (Gaps of representation) - Ramon Amaro
  • Diagrammatic layout in software representation invites you to represent hierarchical structures (Tree, Pack circles)

Topic 2: Social mapping ( Collaborative processes)

• Make communities through Counter-Cartographies
  • Mapmaking collaborative sessions( Iconoclasistas in Argentina)
  • Mapathon - session for collective mapping online
• People’s contributions to building data sets - Democratisation of information
  • Why to contribute ¿ Idealism or local need? —> wisdom of crowds
  • Unavailability of data (where are the data?) —> Data gaps
  • People missing in maps (Missing Maps platform)
• Through collective mapping, the language, tools and techniques of cartography formerly restricted to “specialist” are socialised and reinvented —> expanded to non conventional uses - become an occasional cartographer!
  • Manual for collective mapping iconoclasistas - the creation of visual language - DIY grammar
  • Mapping for Human rights - Amnesty international ( Training session to introduce mapping for Human Rights )

Topic 3: Sharing diagrams with people (Re-publishing), giving their knowledge back!

• Create a common identity
  • Mural anti-eviction map
  • Knitted Flood Wall (the collective process of making )
• Performing diagrams
  • Lize Mogel: Performing infrastructure
• Transforming knowledge into action
  • When counter cartographies became urban tools for designers (Iconoclasistas)
• Anti counter-cartography
  • Companies taking advantage of collective mapping processes to have profit

III. Conclusion

• Summarize the main points
• Make a strong/ memorable final statement: For centuries cartographies had been defined by state and domination and now the reflect individuals’ voices. Thanks to technology and collaborative tools this process is possibly easier and faster nowadays.