#20190207 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

samwebsteruniblog · 2 years

Text

Mapping the World

-Research

Im really interested in exploring this project for the possibilities of exploring a range of topics and then documenting them using maps as the median. I also enjoy typography briefs especially as this is also very open in the experimentation going forward and means I can create something exciting and hopefully unique. I really like this brief for the idea of taking something potentially forgotten or unexplored and turning it into something different that shows the audience and educates them.

- 3D Maps

- Old Historic Maps

- Illustrated maps, These maps show a huge level of detail and a great way to show real places. If I was to go down this route I would have to encorporate a lot of typography to fit the brief.

After the first tutorial we discussed potential ideas and routes to explore I now just have to do further research into the subject and explore potential themes to map. Im still interested in doing something true crime related however I will have to look at other examples so that the work doesn't become insensitive. My main interest is exploring something that hasn't been recorded on a map I think that would create a final product that becomes eye opening.

We spoke creating an editorial final piece so I will also research into different routes here to see if anything inspires me. There is a ton of different spaces that haven't been mapped out physical or not. If I was to go down the true crime route I would need to understand forensic science in more detail to make a successful piece.

Some potential ideas to explore,

Archeology

Evolution

Reservations

Natural changes

Map of things we don't notice

Archeology

This is a really interesting subject, its historical it's also not been thoroughly explored with maps, it could be used to create a journey of the past and present mapping the route or decay that these fossils or historic sites went on over the years. It is quite an open subject that I could through myself into any time and explore that period. This would be really interesting to recreate. Theres also a ton of different ways I could show this journey. However I think Typography is where I will try and focus so that if I want to I can submit my design.

I looked at a few sources that would make good topics to base my project off, and existing maps or reconstructions of this subject.

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/archaeology

https://factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub407/entry-6368.html

My worry about this as I do love the opportunities of exploring ancient history I also think the project will be more reconstruction heavy mapping out buildings compared to now would be really difficult to do without actually visiting these sites and having a solid starting point.

Evolution

This relates closely to the idea of exploring science but it also could become something that shows the evolution of a place or something not biological. I could explore the changes of technology and how much it's taken over in our modern world. I think this would also be really interesting. However I do want to chose an idea or theme that really excites me so I can fully enjoy myself and enjoy the lengthy research that this project needs for a successful outcome.

I looked briefly at some articles exploring different types of evolution.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/forms-patterns-of-evolutionary-change.html#:~:text=The%20four%20types%20of%20evolution,%2C%20parallel%20evolution%2C%20and%20coevolution.

https://www.sparknotes.com/biology/evolution/patternsofevolution/section1/

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190207-technology-in-deep-time-how-it-evolves-alongside-us

The reason I'm not set on this idea is because I feel like this outcome is always going to lean towards a timeline where as I really want to explore more of a journey through a type of tracking or recollection.

True Crime

I am going to explore this idea in more detail because I believe the foundation for something really fascinating that everyone enjoys. True crime is something we all love because of shock value. The psychology behind this is ‘True crime dramas give us an insight into our culture and norms as well as our anxieties and values. By watching true crime dramas, we unlock our natural desire to solve puzzles and mysteries and get to speculate as to why criminals may act the way they do.’ This is why murder mysterious and thrillers are so widely successful. I will have to do a lot more research to make sense of how to create something that doesn't glorify these potential criminal actions but sets it out in a way that educates and explores a certain type of crime. There is a ton of material that does this successfully while still holding up a level of class. We are all obsessed with such topics portrayed in films, board games and books, so I think creating a map or small collection of real life events breaking down the journey or series of events would be really fascinating.

Though these aren't all true crime they do show our obsession over the topic. Some examples of books that do this successfully are,

‘In My Dreams I Hold a Knife’ A book that tells its stories in duel time following 6 friends exploring their separate paths and how these interlink for better or for worse.

‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ This murder mystery shows how an obsession can turn deadly. This has also been turned into a film again showing the love we collectively share for this genre.

‘Sherlock Holmes’ Again with multiple film/tv adaptions, this detective is a cultural classic

Board games that focus on this theme,

‘Detective: City of Angels’ this noir set in the 1940s explores mystery inspired by classic detective stories.

‘Cludo’ The more widely known murder mystery that allows players 8+ to indulge in becoming a detective.

The list of films is constantly growing a few honourable mentions would be,

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile (2019)

No Man of God (2021)

The Frozen Ground (2013)

These portrays don't always glorify the subject but I think they do get close to pushing the boundaries. After exploring these a bit further I can see that even the theme of true crime is so open with a range of potential outcomes that explore mapping. It could become a game map, crime statistic map in certain parts of the world, a map that explore fantasy events, a map that retells events, etc.

I think the aesthetic of a theme like this is what would have to be done sensitively as the subject matter is very accepted however if I was to exaggerate or potentially under play real situations the outcome would hurt.

Looking deeper into the psychology of true crime shows a variety of benefits or affects on the consumer. These are; Because it helps us feel prepared, Because there might be an evolutionary benefit, Because we’re trying to solve the mystery, Because we like to be scared … in a controlled way. This fascination is definitely flushed out to explore I could potential explore the psychology behind it as well creating something that openly educates on that fascination would help make the outcome less glorified.

I also really like the idea of this genre actually inspiring a new generation of law enforcement. ‘While there is the possibility of fictionalised narratives setting unrealistic expectations and communicating misconceptions about roles in the criminal justice system and the police, there are also plenty of positive reasons why crime dramas could inspire the audience to take a wider interest in this field.’ There is also studies that believe true crime is addicting, it's also been proven that a higher percentage of women indulge in these gritty stories.

Forensic science is a big part of bringing these to life so its something I need to get a deeper understanding for and hopefully find some inspiration on the direction to take my project. I will also have to explore what element of crime I would like to map out and portray.

Forensic Science

After looking at a few sources I can see the level of professionalism with all details being accounted for and examined. These sources mainly explored violent crimes where as It would also be good to get some insight on other crimes that include more of a journey.

‘Indeed, the ultimate objective of crime scene investigators and of forensic scientists is aligned: to help enact justice by gathering and analysing evidence, then presenting that evidence in court (either as an expert witness or via attorneys) in order to uncover the truth.’

‘A crime scene investigator is often one of the first professionals at the scene of a crime (after first responders), tasked with examining the location and gathering evidence relevant to the investigation, including photographs and physical evidence.’ If I was to go down this route I could include other media as part of the project alongside something typographical.

https://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/csi/how.html

https://www.forensicscolleges.com/blog/resources/csi-vs-forensic-science

Potential crimes to map

I also looked at a range of articles and events that could be used in this project. Im leaning towards some bank robberies or heists because I think that doing something more gritty would potentially undermine the actual work and I want to make it more mysterious/intriguing than shocking.

When researching bank robberies I was blown away by how often these occur this would be great to include in the final outcome with some facts or figures relating to bank robberies to make the piece more educational.

This site shows all the statistics of bank robberies in the US, it has a ton of different variables accounted for and gives a lot of information that would be very valuable in this project.

https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/bank-robbery

‘The FBI has had a primary role in bank robbery investigations since the 1930s, when John Dillinger and his gang were robbing banks and capturing the public’s attention. In 1934, it became a federal crime to rob any national bank or state member bank of the Federal Reserve System. The law soon expanded to include bank burglary, larceny, and similar crimes, with jurisdiction delegated to the FBI.’

Looking at successful heist would be really interesting to try and let the viewer figure out where they went and where the police messed up etc.

However, despite the frequency, it's rare that would-be bandits make off with much more than a few thousand bucks before getting swiftly apprehended. Of course, there are exceptions. These expectations are what interest me the most with this idea.

https://www.thrillist.com/culture/most-successful-bank-robberies-of-all-time-biggest-heists-in-history

https://www.treehugger.com/unsolved-heists-history-4864043

Some other sources I looked at where youtube which shows successful getaways.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHNjZZQ4w-4&ab_channel=WFAA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eLWS9KC9_U&ab_channel=FOX10News

Artists who explore working with Maps

Map Portraits by Matthew Cusick,