Drucker’s argument about direct address of data visualization applies to call kinds visualizations such whether they be graphic, numeric, network, etc. Any form of communications that involve speaking or being spoken about are consider visualizations that can be consider evidence of direct address and is consider enunciations (Drucker 904). By considering every visualization as a direct address, it allows us to better understand and locate bias and subjectivity and the power structures that are trying to provide this information as neutral or “raw”. This can also lead to others who are not associated with these power structures to give them a say about these data visualizations and be allowed to make their own data that is closer to being neutral or “raw”.
On the “Where coronavirus cases are peaking” map provided by flowingdata.com, it shows us a map of the United States what counties in the country that cases of COVID-19 have been peaking. This data that it provides for us is “speaking” by providing a map and data that shows what counties are being hit hardest in past week and month. This information can support Drucker’s concept of “enunciation” as it presents quantitative data in graphical form, showing us how COVID-19 rates have been around the country in the past week and month (Drucker 907). Also, because it is communicating the information is fully legible, it allows to further support Drucker’s argument on enunciation. Even though the map they provide is a good example of enunciation, in order to make sure I am a rhetorical critic and not a passive one, I would ask where they got the information and what methods they used to get this data. I would also have to look at the language they are using to see if it neutral or “raw” or if they are trying to pass it off as that in reality, it is not.
This reading and blog post can help me with my group project is that I can look at visualizations when I am doing research and now that I have the knowledge, to see if these visualizations have hidden bias or not. I will also better look at the language that is used to describe Trump and the language that Trump uses to see how he uses it to express his beliefs and ideologies and how that affect the population. I also will want to make sure that the visualizations we use also contain information that is not biased and subjective, as the goal is to make sure that we make all visualizations as neutral and “raw” as possible.
Work Cited
Drucker, Johanna. (2017). Information visualization and/as enunciation. Journal of Documentation, 73.5, 903-916, https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-01-2017-0004
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