Center of Visualization Göteborg is a membership organisation managed by Business Region Göteborg and Chalmers University of Technology. Center of Visualization Göteborg is one of three national Knowledge Arenas within the network VISARD, Visualisation - Arenas for Research and Development.

Visual

communication and interpretation of the cultural heritage

When representations of ancient cultures are created, either through models or through exhibition pedagogy, the theoretical is concretised which adds weight to what is argued; the visualisation becomes a creator of identity. Visual communication and interpretations is a dialogue between producer and consumer where a mutual dependence is present that establishes guiding formulas for how the ancient culture is communicated.
In my research field, the communicative aspects of heritage management, I problematise the visualisation and representation of ancient history from a perspective of democratisation; using the visual media to encourage conflicting interpretations and promote the active role of archaeology and archaeologists in social planning. To problematise the presentation of visualisations as an inquiering instrument I argue the concept of choice and reaction in the context of a subject-object relation, identifying concious choice as an integral part of interactive visualisations that is limited by the available reactions. Often the visual media represents the meeting ground between research and the public, solidifying an argumentation. My research aims at explaining the limitations and possibilities of the visual media as a tool for communicating research.
To reach this goal I have identified three questions that I, as separate articles, intend to answer:
• How is an academic discussion acknowledged in the creation of scientific visualisations and how is the viewer encouraged to problematise these visualisations?
• In an interactive milieu, where the viewer is expected to make certain choices, how is her movements limited by only being able to react and not act; In a situtation where an “expert" communicate with a visitor, what power relations are present?
• What actors can we identify in the creation, and usage, of a scientific visualisation?
Content Responsible: Katarina Clase
Updated: 2009-03-19
Organizational affiliation
UniversityofGothenburg, National Heritage board, Istituto Svedese.
Project type
Ph.D. project
Project period
2007-2012
Status
Ongoing
Doctoral candidate
Jonathan Westin
Supervisor
Prof. Hans Bjur
Co Supervisor
Prof. Barbro Santollo Frizell
Funded by
National Heritage Board, University of Gothenburg
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