After narrowing down my data set, I started to sketch out the social and material networks of specific zines based on the data — not by geographic points, but by connections. As expected, I found that the zine titles that traveled in the same distribution networks shared content similarities and other characteristics.
By mapping these shared network similarities, I was able to sketch out 3 different “arguments” for my map (I may also end up with a 4th argument based on a particular author network). These arguments will focus on:
A) personal zines and feminist networks
B) ACT UP zines and queer activism
C) Zines and the squatters rights movement
Here is a sketch of my “personal zines and feminist networks” network map, drawn using a free visualization tool I was introduced to through work, yEd:
yEd takes the data that I’ve input and visualizes the data according to various algorithms. The organic layout gives a good sense of the network hubs (The nodes with the greatest number of connections are clustered in the center).
And here is the same data organized hierarchically, which gives a clearer idea of the chronological distribution/circulation process.
I found this exercise really helpful in terms of visualizing my arguments. Now comes the part where I start plotting this work geographically onto URT!
One Comment
1 shannon wrote:
What a great program, Jen. It’s a fantastic way to test whether particular arguments lend themselves to a spatial representation. I’m glad to have learned about yEd. Rory used a similar-sounding program, CMAP, to recreate the string-mapping exercise we did a few weeks ago; we’re going to share his map in class this Wednesday as we create arguments between everyone’s projects.