Week 05 Objects of Study

Building on our work in the map library, we will continue crafting our archival skills. Identifying objects of study is another unwritten 'soft-skill' in cartography. Understanding the lineage of certain cartographic techniques, design choices, the contexts and their uses/limitations helps us construct more nuanced maps addressing increasingly complex topics. The group activity is intended to get your interpretation essay into a solid outline for further refinement over the next week.

This activity is a prelude to the 'unassigned' work you will be doing for the final project. Which will be to source cartographic precedents for your project topic. For example, if you are mapping an area of the Great Basin, then your precedent archive should have a solid amount of Great Basin cartography.

Week 5 Worksheet: Objects of Study

Optional Resources for Objects of Study

Earth Sciences and Map Library Research Guide

Writing Through It Evening Lab Slides

Burning Worlds by Birgit Schneider - A great demonstration of an author deconstructing a set of maps. Builds through historical context, visual analysis and putting the images into conversation with Art History theory to establish a new line of inquiry.