Thursday, September 6, 2007

No evidence yet for Phosphene Maps

I haven't yet found any evidence in the drawing development of children for phosphene maps. Children draw scribbles, then straight lines, then curved lines, then closed shapes, the 'tadpole' figure, and then a stick figure with a body in a scene. There doesn't seem to be any mapmaking going on. I had hoped to find evidence of geometric patterns in early toddlers, but so far there doesn't seem to be any. This lack of evidence would support theories that geometric maps are actually more advanced than pictorial ones.

There are cultures where geometric patterns emerge as a dominant motif in art and decoration and for ceremonial purposes -- Native American cultures. It's also interesting to note that cultures such as these usually do not have a written language. They have an oral tradition, and then use geometric and curvilinear graphics to designate symbolic meanings.

I need to investigate more about cuneiform writing and the Mayan culture.

It may very well be that the geometric representations are a different branch of communication or expression that is unique to some cultures who (perhaps) are more oriented in right-brain (for lack of a better label at the moment) values.

I plan to read (again) Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin. This may offer some insight about visual representations and visual thinking.