Axel Counter Map

The everyday media experience of an axel jump in figure skating was selected for analysis as part of this project; thus, the individual parts of the movement were analyzed in detail. The alternative strategy of a “counter map” was presented as an outcome of the analysis. This strategy relies on cartography to describe the leitmotif of media experience. This approach enabled identification of the most important actants and visualization of their relationships, as well as the development of new perspectives.

 

The work “Campus Medius” by Simon Ganahl, which focuses on the literary piece “the third Walburgis night” by Karl Kraus, served as a background for this project. Kraus’ text describes events that occurred in Vienna on May 13th and 14th, 1933, which represented a turning point in the political situation. Based on historical research, Simon Ganahl selected 15 events from the weekend described by Karl Kraus to use in this project, which presented the events on an interactive map (see http://campusmedius.net/). Central concepts illustrated in this work include the dispositive, coined by Michel Foucault, and the methodical actor network theory.