Conjuring the Planetary Mine: Counter-Mapping the Heart of Extractive Capital

Abstract

I consider [graphics and media] to be paramount. And not just because I’m a graphic designer. Because you’re competing for eyeballs. You know, everybody is basically saying the same thing: here’s a property. Here’s what we’ve got, what kind of commodity we’re bringing out of the ground or we’re looking for, or whatever. Everybody is saying the same thing. So the faster you can catch someone’s eyeballs with a decent display, and with clear and precise graphics, you’re already ahead of the game as far as telling your story. Because—you were there right?—there’s so many people around, there’s so many things happening, and booth displays. Sometimes you’re talking to someone trying to explain your story, and they’re off looking at someone else’s display because it caught their eye.1