Gandhi Soha Niraj

Narrative Cartographies

The course Narrative Cartographies aims to widen the concepts depicted in spatial representations. Instead of mapping only spaces, it visualizes what is happening in such places and represents the hidden dimensions of space during an event. With this, the outcome of the course entails two narrative cartographies- movie cartography and cartography of another historic event/ riot/ escape that is situated within an extreme spatial construction. 

Movie cartography: The Phantom of Liberty by Luis Bunuel 
Many worlds, Alternate realities an illustrated narrative cartography of a 136-second scene from the absurdist movie, the phantom of liberty directed by Luis Bunuel. The illustration highlights the character in His bedroom which gets successively invaded by a rooster, A lady in black attire (death goddess), a postman on his bicycle, and an ostrich that casually walks across his bedroom. 

 Historic event cartography: Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre is one of the most significant historical events of India where British Troops under the order of Brigadier-General Dyer open fired (without any prior warning) on a large number of unarmed Indians gathered in the Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar for a peaceful protest against the various ban impositions by British Government. The firing went for 10 minutes. 1,650 rounds were fired. The bagh was surrounded by buildings on all four sides and had only three entrances out of which two were locked and one was heavily guarded by soldiers. With no were to escape, approximately 400 people were martyred and over 1,500 were injured. The cartography attempts to capture the spatial dimensions of the event and showcases it in two different settings- before the firing and during the firing.