Mapping Mapping

Introducing Module 1: Boundaries

Boundaries

“Boundaries” is both an important geographical idea and rich metaphor for thinking about mapping in a participatory culture. Boundaries— whether physical or symbolic— define difference, decide what goes inside and outside. They are necessarily sites of negotiation. How do we decide, represent, and traverse the boundaries personally, globally, and locally?

First Thoughts about Boundaries and our Participatory Modes

We decided to use Boundaries as the mapping theme of our pilot module because we both locked onto right away, linking it to existing ideas and resources. Here’s a taste of what we are thinking about. Please share other ideas as you have them! 

Again we’re still working on what to call these Participatory Modes, but for each, we’re looking for activities and resources to begin to build our pilot:

Civic/Community Engagement - It is clear that “boundaries” is very much tied to how we see our community and how we engage with it. 

Engaging Popular Culture - Anytime we bring popular culture into the classroom, we are faced with senstive material. How do we decide the boundaries of our in-school selves and our out-of-school selves? Whether thinking about the classroom or the internet, are there different level of publicness that we activate according to the norms and values of the setting we’re in?

Representational Plurality - How are boundaries represented on a map? When we draw boundaries, as with the green line art project Nick highlighted in his last post, how big an area does that cover when translated into a real life scale? How do we represent/indicate contested boundaries on a map? Why are some boundaries signified and others ignored?

Simulating Real World Systems- USC Annenberg’s* ReDistricting Game is great online activity for thinking and talking about how constructed boundaries impact the political process. Might we also develop an offline simulation game that addresses similar issues?

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(*Lana’s new home-to-be…)