Graphesis: Visual Forms of Knowledge Production
by Johanna Drucker
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Description
Graphesis provides a descriptive critical language for the analysis of graphical knowledge. In an interdisciplinary study fusing digital humanities with media studies and graphic design history, Drucker outlines the principles by which visual formats organize meaningful content. Among the most significant of these formats is the graphical user interface (GUI), the dominant feature of the screens of nearly all consumer electronic devices. Because so much of our personal and professional lives show more is mediated through visual interfaces, it is important to start thinking critically about how they shape knowledge, our behavior, and even our identity. Drucker makes the case for studying visuality from a humanistic perspective, exploring how graphic languages can serve fields where qualitative judgments take priority over quantitative statements of fact. Graphesis offers a new epistemology of the ways we process information, embracing the full potential of visual forms and formats of knowledge production. show lessTags
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Interesting content and discussion of how a humanistic approach to visualization and interface design might take shape. Unfortunately, the prose is god-awful, it's some of the worst academese I've ever waded through. Wouldn't recommend for a casual read.
And ironically, as with a surprising number of books about visualization, the graphic design is terrible. Captions aren't obviously matched when multiple images are on a page. Image reproductions are so scaled down as to be illegible. Images are often placed nowhere near their discussion in the text. Other images aren't referenced at all, I guess they're just there for atmosphere. The "windows" section is oddly placed in the overall flow. It has beautiful typesetting, but the impression show more given is that it was done in a vacuum of understanding the point of the text. show less
And ironically, as with a surprising number of books about visualization, the graphic design is terrible. Captions aren't obviously matched when multiple images are on a page. Image reproductions are so scaled down as to be illegible. Images are often placed nowhere near their discussion in the text. Other images aren't referenced at all, I guess they're just there for atmosphere. The "windows" section is oddly placed in the overall flow. It has beautiful typesetting, but the impression show more given is that it was done in a vacuum of understanding the point of the text. show less
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58+ Works 1,395 Members
Johanna Drucker is the Distinguished Breslauer Professor of Bibliographical Studies in the Department of Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the author of The General Theory of Social Relativity and Diagrammatic Writing.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Graphesis: Visual Forms of Knowledge Production
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- Members
- 103
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- Reviews
- 1
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- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 1
- UPCs
- 1
