Research Project
The Significance of Site on Cultural Identity: Mapping Paris through Literature
Jessica Thornton's research project integrates the virtual world into that of the text as a supplementary vehicle of access into the insight and knowledge available in the humanities. In linking the two, we are concerned with the relationship of the individual and society through place, how these locations are expressed in the text and their general and particular cultural impacts. By mapping the locations from a text, and enriching each local profile with pins to add pertinent information and photographs, we have been able to recreate the world of the text; becoming capable of virtually voyaging into that world.
- Research Area(s)
- Digital Humanities
- Undergraduate Research
- Co-Investigators
- Weber, Elizabeth Dolly
- Funding Source
- LASURI Undergraduate Initiative
Abstract
Jessica (Thornton) Hoselton's research project integrates the virtual world into that of the text as a supplementary vehicle of access into the insight and knowledge available in the humanities. In linking the two, we are concerned with the relationship of the individual and society through place, how these locations are expressed in the text and their general and particular cultural impacts. Mapping locations from a text and enriching each local profile with pins to add pertinent information and photographs enables one to recreate the world of the text and voyage virtually into that world. GIS mapping makes it possible to manipulate the parameters of the mapping experience, permitting the utilization of layers to connect particular points to one another on the map and filters to see only those pins that pertain to a specific category or text. This aspect has been highly informative as it allows for a variety of interpretations: meaning arise behind groupings of locations and surprising significances emerge within the multiple mappings of a single location. So far, Jessica has completed a map of Paris, France that examines the relationship between location and literature. Further steps to this project include a second map which encompasses a larger section of Western Europe. Valuable in the classroom and potentially across a broad spectrum of disciplines, the extent of this research is virtually limitless. Jessica was rewarded first prize at UIC's In/Between Conference and also received the Dorothy Thelander Award for Undergraduate research.