Category: Blog #3

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Blog #3 contextual research

Blog #3

The chronology of events is very important if you wish to see the cause and effects of each event, which Grafton emphasizes in this writing.“By comparing individual histories to one another and the uniform progress of the years, the reader could see the hand of providence at work” (Grafton, 15). Through chronology, we are able to view changes that have happened over the years, and why it is that they changed. There are an endless number of ways to create timelines, and each of them reveals different information about a sequence of events, and they can incorporate images and other media.

Along with chronology, timelines show geography which tells viewers where the event happened, along what time it happened. “Timelines are relatively new sources of information, only formed as they are today in the middle of the 18th century”(Grafton, 19). Timelines are relatively new, so different ideas and methods of making timelines are always being created. In this case, creating a timeline of events to view Elizabeth Grundy’s life helps to view her life as a whole, and gain a better and more full understanding of what it was like to be her. Grafton would agree that graphic visualization is one of the most helpful tools, if not the most helpful when it comes to organizing information into a concise set of data. “Graphic representation is among our most important tools for organizing information” (Grafton, 10).

Here is a specific event from the life of Elizabeth Grundy that my group and I incorporated into our timeline. This was when Grundy was in her 50’s, five years after she had moved to Dukinfield. She started up a girls school, with eleven girls all belonging to families of the Brethren church.

This photo shows a few of the most common illnesses in the 1700’s. We chose this because in her memoir, Grundy talks about the death of multiple family members which led us to believe there was a problem with sickness at this time.

 

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Blog #3 contextual research

Blog #2: Timelines

Image result for chronology
Chronology Pattern

 

The method utilized to represent historical data is just as important as the the information it contains. Modes of representation can determine the clarity of the information being shared and are examples of  interesting ways to analyze information. Chronology and Geography, two modes brought up by Grafton, show us the pros and cons of using certain modes of representation to present historical data/events.

Image result for geography
            The Layers of Geographical Representation

During the creation of the Timeline.js project and reading of Grafton’s work, I got to experience and learn how information and the mode of how it is represented have a close and dependent relationship. In Cartographies of Time, Grafton shows how modes of representation have progressed throughout history, highlighting the improvements and background that led to timelines. Historical data can benefit or suffer from its compilation into a timeline or its representation on a map. I definitely witnessed the benefit of each mode on the events that I pulled from my transcriptions. All timelines, the medium of chronology represented in this project, are unique and have different forms of organization. My timeline utilized contextual events in relation to the historical events in my transcription and then presented a visual in order to better support each event. The main benefit of this method is its organizational value that creates a better understanding of the historical events, both literally and contextually, for the reader. This method also makes the presentation of the data more interesting with its visuals and contextual events. Another interesting aspect of this timeline is how it has the capability of utilizing maps, a popular medium of geography, in its visuals. The main con of utilizing chronology to present historical data that I saw in this project is that the “story” can become compromised in the process of collecting the data to compile into a timeline. For instance, when scouring the transcriptions, we automatically pull the events that come with a date; in order to chronologically organize data, we feel the need for numbers. Because of our reliance upon the time, days, months, and/or years that structure the line, we sometimes fail to dive deeper into the events represented, sacrificing the “story.” Grafton points this out in his work, stating, “Our idea of time is so wrapped up in the metaphor of the line that taking them apart seem virtually impossible.” In this process, many key events in the transcription are not pulled simply because they were not attached to a specific time, day, month, or year and, in turn, are not represented and shown to the reader. Even if these events are included and compiled into the timeline, there is a compromise in accuracy; the author must then generalize the time in which the event took place. With geographical representation, events and data can also be compromised. Similarly to how events without time, day, month, or year cannot be included in timelines without being compromised, events not marked by a location cannot be geographically represented without being compromised.

After the completion of my timeline, I came to the conclusion that the modes of representation identified by Grafton are very beneficial when used to present certain data. In addition, I noticed how these modes of representation can be detrimental when used to present other data. My findings evoke the debate of whether or not the purpose of these modes is to tell a story or simply organize data. In my opinion, they do both. These modes organize the data/events in a way that we can formulate a story. As Grafton points out in his work, the author must first look past the linear when creating the timeline, and the reader must do the same if we are to utilize all of the benefits that come with timelines.  The lines of a timeline are the lives of the story; when they end, the story ends. And the visualization of the locations of the events provided by the use of geography as a mode can make sense of the data and further support the story.

LINK TO TIMELINE: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19D5MbZfE71t0zlKwUYbnZyNQD3EcQef-JETzGkvr17k/edit?usp=sharing

               Timeline visual: Mode of Geography
          Timeline Visual: 18th Century Marriage
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Blog #3

In terms of the timeline, there is no such thing as a single timeline that explains the origin of everything. As we saw with the example with the timeline of the western world book that was shown in class it showed how the world is not composed on one single line , but a intensely complex system that stem from each other. There are many events that are happening from many parts in the world that are happening at the same time from each other. But when looking in timelines one has to understand the problems that come with it. “Addressing the problem of chronology, and especially the problem of visual chronology, means going back to the line, to understand its ubiquity, flexibility, and force… the presence of the lines couldn’t be more obvious.” (pg13)

For what it is I have come to terms with the Moravian Lives complexity on its ideas and modes of representation because one must use what was given to them to their fullest and understand that everything will not be as a simple to plot. The way that I have come to terms is by understanding the complexity of it and seeing that there won’t be a clear cut answer to solving the timeline. With the modes of representation that were used was geography, in which was used to understand the land of the areas that Latrobe use to live, and chronology, in which helped our group to be more organized in seeing the flow of time. Which both have clarified Historical events that happened during the time period. There are times where these modes can obscure small or some important details that are not told to why things led to these events.

For a timeline it can tell a story of a human being, the era of a kingdom or the environment in a specific area, but in a big picture “in which forces of disorder occupy the forefront of attention in which things happen to people rather one in which people do things.” (pg.12) For example, with Minards chart of the Russian campaign gives a “complex, but sometimes paradoxical way in which a real story is told.” (pg.23) It allowed me to see the story at a different angle in how this event transpired during that that time. Starting from a huge army then having most of the army wipe out by the winter season was told by single timeline of a line that thinned out overtime.

 

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Blog #3 contextual research

Paige Whitney’s Blog 3

When examining history, timelines are very important because they allow people to see major changes over an extended period of time in chronological order. Timelines are arranged in an organized way that make it easy and efficient to work with when looking back through history. The small passages about a specific date or time period are very informational. With the advancing technology, timelines now offer pictures and other forms of media to help the viewer imagine the time and place of the event.

Hailey and I formed a timeline of Harriett Lees’s life and included three major dates: her birth, marriage, and death. We gathered more relevant information to Harriett Lees’s life in attempt to make comparisons and connections. When we furthered our research on her hometown, Leominster, we found a lot of interesting and relevant information. This is an example of the geographic mode of representation.

Other major occurrences we came across when researching were the Industrial Revolution, Leamington spa, and lung sickness, also known as tuberculosis. Hailey and I used chronological mode of representation when analyzing our timeline. For example, the timeline allowed us to make the connection and understand Harriett Lees suffering and death from tuberculosis. When deepening our research on the Leamington Spa, we learned that they were seen as healthy places where sick people would go to receive spa waters, doctors, and other medicinal purposes. Again, this allowed us to find a connection between civilians in Great Britain at the time and Harriett Lees.

Tuberculosis was a serious sickness in the nineteenth century and affected many young people.
Photo of the Leamington Spa that is shown in our timeline.

I have learned so much by reading Grafton’s introduction about timelines and going through the process of making one. The use of a timeline has taught me how to make connections between events during a time period in history. It has also allowed me a greater understanding of Harriett Lees’s life.

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