Bird's eye view: Blog for 10/15 & 10/17

After reading Alex Krieger's "As Thought in Flight: 19th Century American Urban Views," I was particularly struck by the motivation behind making bird's eye views while America developed as a nation. Initially as America was still trying to grasp the massive societal changes that the industrial revolution was bringing about, bird's eye view maps were used mainly as a "form of mass merchandising and civic boosterism" (Krieger, p. 15). Essentially, cities were expanding rapidly and there were sweeping technological changes that were dramatically changing the landscape of many cities. As these cities developed, bird's eye views were constructed so all of the new development driven by the industrial revolution could be realized by those within a relevant economic radius so businesses could have their wares and industries promoted in hopes of building the city. Also, the article states that "if more people could identify their home or businesses or other important town landmarks, more would be proud to own or display such a view, or even invest in the production of a new view" (Krieger, p. 16). The main aspect I want to stress from this quote is that all those depicted in a map where one can easily identify their personal space have an economic interest in the making of maps from the bird's eye view perspective. Businesses shown in these maps have the obvious economic interest in bird's eye views because being depicted is in itself an advertisement that drives those who view the map in need of a specific business's good or services to that business's location. However, for whatever personal reasons, even plain citizens attach economic value to being able to pick out their personal space on map. After reading this passage I immediately began searching for connections to contemporary society where technology has allowed "people [to] identify their home or businesses or other important town landmarks, [making them] proud to own or display such a view". I quickly drew the connection to Google maps and Apple maps and the immense value attached to these modern sources of bird's eye views. Businesses LOVE these digital maps because they provide businesses with the opportunity to become more prominent on a map where often current locations are used for GPS helping drive sales to local stores. Furthermore, anyone that has used one of these new-school bird's eye views has probably found some inherent value in these maps, from the excitement of being able to find one's exact home in a map encompassing the entire world to the wonder that is evoked from being able to explore and see the important landmarks of the world from the view of the satellites orbiting hundreds of miles above our heads. It just really intrigues me of the parallel between the past and today and how companies have always capitalized on the value societies have placed on these maps.