How can we use maps to promote social justice?

For many people, the first time to associate map is google map, a very convenient tool for life. This tool can lead us to find places and to guide the navigation of the car. But in fact, map is not only the use of google map, but also a tool for social justice. Nowadays, drawing technology combined with data makes it an intuitive content at a glance. Based in California, there is the emergence of ESRI, the market leader in mapping software. This kind of software can successfully help many different professionals.

For a simple example, the map below shows areas with fewer parks (lighter green) have higher rates of childhood obesity (larger red circles). 

Through these maps, abstract concepts and content can be presented to people at a glance. Whether it is people’s security, fair politics or a cleaner environment, some non-profit organisations and policy documents have found maps to express their cases more efficiently. The map can also expose crime, and four technical experts have launched a website that uses Google Maps to map Kenya’s citizenship reports of post-election violence. They use the map to simply present the information of the crisis to the public and make the issue transparent.

In addition to crime, maps also find a better community for people to work and live. There is a maps, which used in Ms Samuel’s ACLU court case from the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in Columbus Ohio. The aims of this maps is to help people find neighbourhood where jobs, health care, safety and public transport are in better supply. Or Also to spur the creation of more such neighbourhoods. This “opportunity” maps helps a family of eight in Chicago in 2006. The family of eight ended up finding a place in north-west suburbs and their children ended up in better schools and stayed out of trouble. 

Photo from Google (https://www.meetup.com/topics/social-justice/?_cookie-check=–vqnxJsJMaprWu0)

“Maps don’t change the world—but people who use maps do.”says John Kim, campaigner for Health City. These examples bring out the benefits and greatness of the map. There are many social problems around the world, and everyone knows. But only a single number may not attract the urgent attention of the people or the government. Through the map, events and data can be displayed to let people know where the problem is serious. At the same time, the map focuses more clearly on the environment in which people live, and can provide and utilise services more effectively.

 

Reference :

1. Mapping a better world

https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2009/06/04/mapping-a-better-world

2. MAPS: How Mapping Helps Reduce Crime and Improve Public Safety

https://www.nij.gov/topics/technology/maps/Pages/reduce-crime.aspx

Japanese anime and the East/West divide

Japanese anime can be said to affect the people of the world. Take the famous anime as an example — Pokemon. This animation has been adapted into the international movie market. The launch of the mobile app Pokemon Go has attracted worldwide attention, connecting different age groups around the world. 

Photo from Google

Photo from Google

There are millions people attention to anime, but what exactly is anime? In Japan, anime refer to all animation from all the world. In English, it define as “a style of animation developed in Japan.” 

Is Japanese anime divide East or West? A certain degree is.

Japanese anime and American animation can tell the difference. The first is visual features, the big eyes that Japanese anime must have, the exaggerated expressions, and the speed lines of the characters, which are more exaggerated and unreasonable. And American animation is closer to reality, and it can find similarities with people in reality. In addition, there are also differences in the background of the venue. Most Japanese anime is based on the reality of the environment, whereas the American animation biased to the venue is imaginative and impossible to find in reality. Matsuyama City Hot Springs, which have appeared in Spirited Away, or Akihabara, which has appeared in many comics. There is also a gap between the two in the story. Japanese anime shows the emotions between the characters, showing an epic storyline that can play hundreds of episodes. American animation is usually designed to make people laugh and tell stories. American animation tends to target children, like the famous Disney and Marvel, while Japanese anime can be both adult and child-friendly. These can all see the cultural differences between the two. 

Japanese anime and American animation Photo form Google : https://aminoapps.com/c/dibujos_animados/page/blog/anime-vs-cartoon-la-pelea-termina-hoy/KWms_Mu0qwQXmlPY7d4rdYb2n4R4KQJ

Colorful graphics, vibrant characters and fantasy themes are all Japanese anime features. It is quite different from the fact that American animation is close to reality. But nowadays, the popularity of Japanese anime, the movies, games and surrounding goods produced by animation have spread all over the world. It can be seen from here that in fact, the West also accepts Japanese anime. Japanese culture brought out in Japanese anime has also spread to the West and has become a manifestation of global cultural exchanges.

Even if there are different cultural things in the East and the West, people can get to communicate with each other from a variety of things. Pokemon is a successful example, becoming the most popular anime in the world for 20 years. Connecting people from all over the world to different age groups gives people a common topic, interest, and even memories. 

 

Reference :

1.Difference between American Cartoon and Japanese Anime

http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/entertainment-miscellaneous/difference-between-american-cartoon-and-japanese-anime/

2. Japanese anime Vs American cartoons

http://www.shs.edu.tw/works/essay/2016/04/2016040113592689.pdf