I decided to examine the ReVilna digital map project. This project is extremely robust, equipped with a plethora of features. This is an interactive map that is supposed to give insight into what life was like in a Ghetto during the Holocaust. The site utilizes many different sources in order to provide a comprehensive map on the Ghetto. You can explore many different areas of culture; one such area is in the arts. Within the arts, you then have the option to click on many color coded tabs, such as theater, library, or sports fields. By clicking on these, one really starts to get a sense for how cramped these Ghettos were.
This map was clearly taken from the point of view of an individual who had to suffer through the extreme lifestyle that was necessary to survive in the destitute circumstances of the Ghetto. As I click through the various tabs, such as the “Religion” tab which shows religious institutions, I start to get a feeling of empathy for the people that had to live here. It is clear to see from this map that the living situation must have been very cramped and claustrophobia inducing.
This map does an excellent job of revealing the true hardships that Jewish people were forced to face in these dark times. This may serve as a way to make people more aware so another atrocity on this scale does not take place again.
This map does not really obscure any information. All of the information seems to be pretty objective, and additional resources are provided if somebody wants to do additional research. I tip my hat to the creators of this project for trying to keep such a sensitive matter objective; this allows people to form their own opinions about the tough subject without coming across as a biased source of information.
Perhaps an alternate map could show how densely populated each location is. For example, in the religious example the dot perhaps could be bigger relative to the other religious institutions if more people were to visit it. This could enhance my understanding of the Ghetto even more if I had the ability to pinpoint every single location on the map and say “this was more densely populated than that place.” However, the map does not fail to express the overall meaning; life in the Ghetto was very difficult, and it is important for people to understand these hardships.