cdb5cc7a_When_Knowledge_Worlds_Collide__as__screeds__manifestos__etc__
[NAME] Keith [Reading] General Comments:
The image on the cover makes it seem that the water towers contain a functional role in the canal systems in addition to the symbolic role described by Lansing. From my understanding they do not actually touch water (perhaps the image on the cover is just canal system?) It was a bit of a let-down that they are not overlapping systems and I was misled by the image on the cover. In fact, the entire book could benefit from some better imagery to document the structures, terraces, etc. The diagrams of the subak systems are also extremely primitive and as visual tools for explanation hardly convey the interdependencies described in the book. Helmreich raises an important point: how many variables are necessary before a computational representation (or experiment for that matter) can be considered valid? I would argue that in this case the variables are a bit reductive but the influence of WWII (suggested to be included by Helmreich) might be limited in the scope of what Lansing is trying to effectively communicate regarding irrigation.
When Knowledge Worlds Collide
AGENDA ITEM (questions, comments, ideas, screeds, manifestos, etc.)