This course teaches the fundamentals of data visualization. Partnering with the Smithsonian and utilizing their Open Access portal, students were asked to focus on one of the following themes: social justice, women's initiative, and environmental justice. I decided to focus on social justice, specifically racial justice. I explored the Smithsonian's affiliated institutions and learned about the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It led me to think:
If we looked at a NMAAHC collection of just one object type, could that collection alone tell a story of racial justice?
This viz will explore items related to music from the NMAAHC. This includes 261 items: photos, instruments, clothing/costumes, posters/tickets, and sheet music. The data set's quality is good! An accurate and varied collection over a large span of time.
How did the origins of African-American music arise from the conditions of slavery? In what ways did African-American music bring joy? What themes were explored through music? Are there patterns of African-American music by geographic area?
I chose a hybrid of timeline and pin map to explore the items throughout the music's evolution and simultaneously see patterns in the geographic spread of the influence of African-American music.
.jpeg)
This viz will explore clothing items from the NMAAHC. This includes 260 items: clothes, costumes, and accessories from the 1600s - 2010s. The data set is ripe with a variety of themes including slavery, incarceration, sports, activism, entertainment and more.
Could clothing reflect the struggles and successes of African-American lives throughout history? Was clothing worn for protest, entertainment, or utility?
I chose a timeline method mixed with a gallery wall to show the evolution of fashion through a unique scrolling experience (similar to Pinterest or viewing a fashion museum in person) with color-coded keywords.
.jpeg)
This viz will explore photographs from the NMAAHC. This includes 595 photographs over a large span of time. The data set is larger and a good starting place to explore multiple themes. However, many of these photos are "unidentified" so it would be a challenge to know more backstory to the photos.
Could we see a rich tapestry of African-American life over the centuries through the viz? What were the occasions for the photographs? Is there a pattern of themes or occupations in the photos? Business owners, military, etc.?
I chose a bar chart along with a gallery wall with keywords for filtering to show the distribution of the museum's photographs over time.