Blog Post 4: Information visualization & distant reading

    Chapters 6 and 7  focus on information visualization and data mining and provide valuable insights that align with the concept of distant reading as explored in the readings "What is Distant Reading?" and "Problems of Scale." These chapters emphasize the importance of transforming complex data into visual formats that enhance understanding while also highlighting the analytical capabilities of data mining to uncover patterns and trends across large datasets.

Initially, when I applied these concepts to my project and the two websites for this week's blog post, they seemed disparate. However, upon deeper reflection, I discovered a common thread that binds these projects. It's not just about the visual presentation of research, but the unique way of extracting and presenting information. This realization has fostered a stronger connection to our shared learning experience. Whether it's connecting philosophers in a spider graph or creating a memorial using artifacts from victims, the process is shared. 

Through the course readings, you create data charts and bar graphs using the information you research. "The earliest forms of visual records seem to have been observations of the planets and other natural cycles." I thought this quote was interesting because it added some history behind the topic of conversation. It also goes back to my first thoughts on what DH is. There have been no limits on what you can do using DH; this quote supports that. This form of DH connects more to the separate websites we looked at this week. You are creating a graph using lines to provide the reader with a unique experience. 

In the next chapter, we looked more specifically at data mining, which is more relatable to the Gun Violence Memorial Project. "One advantage to data mining is the analysis of cultural materials in their native format." This quote is an excellent example of the process that my project uses. Taking artifacts that victims' families donate is a form of data mining as taken and preserved in its "natural form" and displayed to the viewers.

Overall, this week's reading displayed many connections to my project and continued to provide me with a richer understanding of the DH process as a whole.

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