1. A system having a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising: a first plurality of graphical user interface objects, each representing a media item, displayed at a first zoom level; means for receiving a selection indication associated with one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects; and means for zooming in on, and panning toward, said one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects to display at least said one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects at a second zoom level, means for maintaining a data structure which contains information associated with a local coordinate system for said interface object; means for transforming said local coordinate system using a transform matrix to generate a resolution independent data set for said interface object; and means for mapping said resolution independent data set to pixels associated with a currently displayed portion of said GUI, wherein, if said second zoom level exceeds a semantic zoom threshold, said semantic zoom threshold is based, at least in part on a display resolution, said one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects includes different content than said one of said first plurality of graphical user interface objects at said first zoom level.