Lev Manovich on Data Visualization

I have read a few of Lev Manovich’s texts in the past. I am always astounded by his keen sense of observation. This contemporary media theorist is able to resonate the current state of media as well as suggest where it may be going. It is interesting to consider the capacity of computers, which we transport with us. These miniature devices provide simple data visualization for a broad audience. That is not to say that they are easily attainable. The creation of such visualizations implies a subjective point of view. I believe that north-American society has become more alert to the dangers of the television medium especially news media. Recently, strategies have been developed to transmit more information to viewers by means of charts, tables or colourful graphics. Any of these methods favour a certain aspect of the data at hand. Viewers should avoid letting their guard down while absorbing information from these structures. Manovich also brings to light the ability visualizations have to highlight patterns in culture. By agglomerating collections of human output it would be possible to analysts to help understand the obscure world of culture. For Manovich, this is where the capacity of computers is best harnessed. Computation allows in-depth research and observation of seemingly un-linkable elements. This is only possible, according to Manovich, because of the virtually immeasurable volume of storage in use and still available to our society. By perpetuating the link between databases, visualizations and society, Manovich suggests that a narrative is present. This narrative element generates an even greater interest on behalf of the analysts.

 

In response to the readings of :  The database as a genre of new media by Lev Manovich and The Next Big Thing in Humanities, Arts and Social Science Computing: Cultural Analytics an interview with Manovich.