Friday, January 28, 2011
Sidenote: [Nostalgia mapping?]
This thought has likely been provoked by Hypercities and the exercise in which we drew our childhood maps... I think it would be very interesting to try to map my concept of the city as I have matured. Using old photographs and memories to create an evolving map of my sense of the city beginning with my home and expanding to include my neighborhood, then my elementary school, and progressing until present day and my experience within the city. It would be nifty to see how my "city limits" have dilated and how my perception of places and my relation to them has changed. In this sense, I would have a sort of Hypercities map of Edmonton that actually interested me because it would pertain to me (how egotistical, for shame). Really, though, it would combine my life and memories and emotion with a map in a crazy culmination of Hypercities and the biomapping project we looked at (http://www.biomapping.net/). Hmmm... I may spend the weekend rummaging through old photos and scrapbooks in my basement.
Hypercity
This is simply amazing: http://hypercities.ats.ucla.edu/
Contrary to the crime map, sexual assault map, and walk score map which each show grid-like streets with a few markers to indicate crimes or points of interest, Hypercities provides more of an engaging experience. Not only does the site give you a satellite view of a modern city of your choice which allows you to get more of a feel for the city and a more accurate assessment of the layout and topographical features., but his site provides multiple maps from completely different eras that can overlay the satellite image with adjustable opacity. Now, I've never been one to like history or claim to be interested in it, but this mapping site provides a more tangible form of historical documentation. Instead of learning about an ancient city and its development, this site allows you to see history unfold. Of particular interest to me was looking at Rome and observing different mapping styles, and seeing how the placement of certain places (such as the Colosseum or the river) differed slightly from map to map. It's fascinated to be able to sort of *see* the spatial awareness with regards to the city, and how surprisingly accurate some cartographers were despite the obvious lack of technology! This map is terribly fun to play around with, and provides what I think is an enriching educational experience.
That being said, upon visiting this site, I went immediately to view Paris and Rome --- I've visited both of these cities and fell in love with them. Really, I just fell in love with Europe. This brings me back to my view of Edmonton as being somewhat dulled. While a map of Edmonton on this site could be interesting just for the sake of seeing the development of my hometown, it's a newer city, and I think part of the magic of Hypercities is the ability to see a map of Rome from the year 211 - a time so long ago and so hard to reach out to. Maybe I'm just so deeply disconnected from Edmonton that I don't even care how it came to be. Maybe some of you could agree that a Hypercities map of Edmonton wouldn't be nearly as fascinating as the one of Rome.
Mapping my Edmonton could help me to see better my life as it is intertwined with the city. I worry, however, that in defining the city through my interaction with it, I will only discover that my life is boring and has helped to create the dullness that seems to pervade my Edmonton. Oops?
Contrary to the crime map, sexual assault map, and walk score map which each show grid-like streets with a few markers to indicate crimes or points of interest, Hypercities provides more of an engaging experience. Not only does the site give you a satellite view of a modern city of your choice which allows you to get more of a feel for the city and a more accurate assessment of the layout and topographical features., but his site provides multiple maps from completely different eras that can overlay the satellite image with adjustable opacity. Now, I've never been one to like history or claim to be interested in it, but this mapping site provides a more tangible form of historical documentation. Instead of learning about an ancient city and its development, this site allows you to see history unfold. Of particular interest to me was looking at Rome and observing different mapping styles, and seeing how the placement of certain places (such as the Colosseum or the river) differed slightly from map to map. It's fascinated to be able to sort of *see* the spatial awareness with regards to the city, and how surprisingly accurate some cartographers were despite the obvious lack of technology! This map is terribly fun to play around with, and provides what I think is an enriching educational experience.
That being said, upon visiting this site, I went immediately to view Paris and Rome --- I've visited both of these cities and fell in love with them. Really, I just fell in love with Europe. This brings me back to my view of Edmonton as being somewhat dulled. While a map of Edmonton on this site could be interesting just for the sake of seeing the development of my hometown, it's a newer city, and I think part of the magic of Hypercities is the ability to see a map of Rome from the year 211 - a time so long ago and so hard to reach out to. Maybe I'm just so deeply disconnected from Edmonton that I don't even care how it came to be. Maybe some of you could agree that a Hypercities map of Edmonton wouldn't be nearly as fascinating as the one of Rome.
Mapping my Edmonton could help me to see better my life as it is intertwined with the city. I worry, however, that in defining the city through my interaction with it, I will only discover that my life is boring and has helped to create the dullness that seems to pervade my Edmonton. Oops?
Friday, January 21, 2011
"My Edmonton"
Edmonton has been my whole life...
...But only in the sense that I have inhabited the city since my birth. I don't define myself as an Edmontonian, nor do I feel any particular connection to the city. In fact, sometimes I abhor my birthplace as I think that had I been born elsewhere, my talents could have been better cultivated by richer culture and keener eyes. The city's limits? I feel stuck within them. It is the space of nearly my whole physical life, minus the few times I've left the city to see "bigger and better" things: Paris, Rome, Athens... Great, colourful places full of historical and cultural riches. When I think of Edmonton, I envision nothing but shades of grey. Lackluster. I don't feel as though Edmonton has a distinct and lively culture of its own.
I admire aspects of the city, sure enough. We have a breathtaking river valley, though more brilliant views can be had outside of the city in the Rocky Mountains - Once again, Edmonton seems to hold but a shade of beauty. We boast the world-class Winspear Centre which often houses our Edmonton Symphony orchestra and it is always a wonderful treat to sit in the Winspear and listen to skilled musicians play. But the Winspear is mere architecture, yet still, its impressive resounding acoustics are grossly under-appreciated. Our new art gallery is spectacular, yet the art displayed within its skillfully skewed space transforms it not into a place that defines Edmonton as most of the displays do not boast local art - Perhaps a sign that we really don't have a unique culture to share?
I want more than anything to be proven wrong. I want to feel and see and experience local beauty and culture. I want to be proud to define myself as an Edmontonian.
...But only in the sense that I have inhabited the city since my birth. I don't define myself as an Edmontonian, nor do I feel any particular connection to the city. In fact, sometimes I abhor my birthplace as I think that had I been born elsewhere, my talents could have been better cultivated by richer culture and keener eyes. The city's limits? I feel stuck within them. It is the space of nearly my whole physical life, minus the few times I've left the city to see "bigger and better" things: Paris, Rome, Athens... Great, colourful places full of historical and cultural riches. When I think of Edmonton, I envision nothing but shades of grey. Lackluster. I don't feel as though Edmonton has a distinct and lively culture of its own.
I admire aspects of the city, sure enough. We have a breathtaking river valley, though more brilliant views can be had outside of the city in the Rocky Mountains - Once again, Edmonton seems to hold but a shade of beauty. We boast the world-class Winspear Centre which often houses our Edmonton Symphony orchestra and it is always a wonderful treat to sit in the Winspear and listen to skilled musicians play. But the Winspear is mere architecture, yet still, its impressive resounding acoustics are grossly under-appreciated. Our new art gallery is spectacular, yet the art displayed within its skillfully skewed space transforms it not into a place that defines Edmonton as most of the displays do not boast local art - Perhaps a sign that we really don't have a unique culture to share?
I want more than anything to be proven wrong. I want to feel and see and experience local beauty and culture. I want to be proud to define myself as an Edmontonian.
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