Alternative Atlas: A Counter-map of Boston Land-Forming


Abstract

Boston, the territory we are now habituating, has been glorified by humans conquering nature, creative reformation, and struggles of self-emancipation. The other narratives, from those nameless grassroots to our non-human cohabitants. Through tracing the city's land-forming history with a particular focus on critical moments that continuously shape the spatial and socio-political territory, we aim to excavate both the survival crisis and alternative narratives behind the mainstream history and claims. The project serves more than a reflection on the ethics for Anthropocene, or simply educating the audience about the past, but with a 'post-masculinist rationality'(Zylinsk) marked by the courage to embrace the uncertainty from the future and the past. And 'find a point of entry and connect to the process that shapes your daily environment'(Heeswijk). In the reflection and rehearsal of another historical narrative, participants reach a reconciliation with their ancestors, become aware of one's agency at the moment, and step further to an 'active co-producer(Heeswijk) for the not-yet-sure future.

By using the landscape, people selected the features that matters most to them, and draw their mental maps accordingly. Once they have labeled those maps in a particular way, natural and cultural landscape began to shade into and reshape one another. -------William Cronon


 Prologue: A History of Land Reclamation 

expand|flow|survive

a timeline of city-forming | a human Anthropocene

historical archives | maps and drawings


Actors: An Agents Matrix

agents matrix

an agents index


A Counter-map

 "Counter-mapping is against dominant power structures, to further seemingly progressive goal." --------------Nancy Peluso

water memory

soil memory


Actors

{American Bumblebee}

counter-mapping


{Lobster}

counter-mapping


{Atlantic Sturgeon}


{Fungus}

MBTA network | mycelium network


{River Birch}

Boston high-rise | birch forest


Engagement

participation ladder

Alternative atlas: is designed to uncover the hidden agents as our co-habitators and their interwined relationship in the ongoing history of Boston landforming, hopefully to inspire local awareness and action towards a more egalitarian co-survivalism in a changing climate. It was developed for local decision-makers, conservation practitioners, large landowners, and community leaders across the state.



VIS 2484: Interdisciplinary Art and Design Practices

Instructor: Malkit Shoshan

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Spring 2022

a timeline of city-forming | a human Anthropocene

historical archives | maps and drawings

agents matrix

water memory

soil memory

counter-mapping

counter-mapping

MBTA network | mycelium network

Boston high-rise | birch forest

participation ladder