Exercise 2: Art of Observation
Title:
Exercise 2: Art of Observation
Description:
Choose a map from the Chorographic Sketchbook of Siberia. The candidate sheets are collected here. You might want to page through them all and if you want to go through the whole Sketchbook, the Harvard Library copy is here.
Imagine that this map is the only piece of evidence on Earth that tells us anything about that particular space. Imagine, also, that the map will dissolve at midnight on January 5, 2022 and the only record of it will be what you record from your observations. Your task is to provide a thick description of the space depicted on the map. All of humanity is depending on you. And you will likely be required to present your work to Tsar Peter the Great, so you will want to put your best foot forward (or risk permanent exile to.... Siberia).
But don't worry. At this stage, you are only required to compile a list of observations.
Just what sort of observations? You could start with a statement along the lines of "I see a squiggly blue line running horizontally across the page." But deep down you would know that is not what we are after. Or, I should say, it is not what the tsar was after. Instead, you might say some something along the lines of "The river runs north until a non-Russian settlement appears on the left bank."
Keep in Mind
- Don't forget how important it is to relate one feature to another.
- Mine the map for details.
- Don't worry about placenames or other texts. Let's agree that the maps are written in an indecipherable language. Focus on graphic elements.
Nuts & Bolts
- Create a numbered list of observations.
- Your list should include no fewer than ten observations.
- You will share your findings in class, so you will need to come up with a system for connecting each observation to its location on the map sheet.
- Compose your list in Canvas or paste it in from your favorite text editor.