Do Not Erase: Mathematicians and Their Chalkboards
April 13, 2024
Do Not Erase: Mathematicians and their Chalkboards is a photo-essay book on the blackboards of mathematicians. It was photographed and edited by Jessica Wynne, and published in 2021 by the Princeton University Press.
Wynne is a professor of photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She came to this project through an acquaintance with mathematicians Amie Wilkinson and Benson Farb, neighbors of hers in Cape Cod, and through a trip to India from which she brought back a set of photographs she had taken of school chalkboards in Jaipur.[1]
The title of the book harks back to the legend of Archimedes commanding his killer not to erase his circles. In modern times, adding "do not erase" as an annotation on a filled-up chalkboard is a familiar way to request the preservation of its contents. By photographing these chalkboards, Wynne has given them significantly more permanence than they otherwise would have.[2]
Contentsedit
Do Not Erase is formatted as a sequence of 109 two-page spreads,[3] printed unusually in landscape mode: the pages are approximately letter size, but wider than they are tall.[2] Each spread features a full-color photograph of a mathematician's chalkboard, generally viewed straight on without visual embellishment,[1] although some include scenery visible through nearby windows.[4] These are paired with commentary by the same mathematician,[3] as well as a brief description of who they are and where they work.[1][5] Most of the photographs show the chalkboard in a moment drawn from the mathematician's work on it,[1] depicting how mathematicians think, work, and communicate with each other.[5] Some other photographs show chalk drawings that were deliberately created to be photographed for this book. The mathematicians themselves are not depicted.[1] Many of their comments relate to their tactile pleasure in using chalk, to the semi-permanence of partially-legible erasures from chalkboards, and to the pacing the use of chalk imparts to mathematical talks.[1][6] Other comments give the story behind the specific notation depicted in the photograph.[4]
The mathematicians included in this work range from schoolteachers and users of mathematics in other academic disciplines,[3] students and junior faculty,[1] and prominent research mathematicians including Alain Connes, Terence Tao,[3] and three other Fields Medalists.[1]
Audience and receptionedit
One complaint made by reviewer Athanase Papadopoulos is that the selection of mathematicians in Do Not Erase is very US-centric, with some major centers of mathematical research in Russia, China, Japan, and India entirely omitted.[5] Owen Toller suggests that the glimpses of mathematics seen in the photos will be largely meaningless to many readers, giving only an impression of their work that is "superficial and extrinsic in a vaguely post-modern way".[3]
Other reviewers are more positive: Papadopoulos finds the images beautiful, and suggests that the book would make an appropriate gift to a friend.[5] Barry Hayes describes the photos as "sumptuous".[1] Writing from the point of view as a mathematician, Adhemar Bultheel calls it "a wonderful mirror" that could help other mathematicians think about what they do,[2] while Elizaveta Dubrovina finds it to be "a nostalgic reminder of the tactility of chalk and the conviviality of in-person collaboration" in what has become a largely online world, her choice as a mathematical coffee table book.[4] And Edward Valauskas takes issue with Toller's suggestion that this would be incomprehensible to a general audience, writing "many of the observations by mathematicians in this book on their chalk handiwork are understandable to non-mathematically inclined, not requiring some sort of futuristic universal translator. For that, I am quite grateful."[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghiHayes, Brian (2021), "Chalkophilia (review of Do Not Erase)", American Scientist, 109 (5), Sigma Xi: 315, doi:10.1511/2021.109.5.315, S2CID 241194480
^ abcBultheel, Adhemar (September 2021), "Review of Do Not Erase", MAA Reviews, Mathematical Association of America
^ abcDubrovina, Elizaveta (September 2021), "The mathematical chalkboard society (review of Do Not Erase)", Nature Physics, 17 (9): 979, doi:10.1038/s41567-021-01343-8, S2CID 239647858
^ abcdPapadopoulos, Athanase, "Review of Do Not Erase", zbMATH, Zbl 1492.00051
^ abValauskas, Edward J. (September 2021), "Blackboards and chalk, to the rescue (review of Do Not Erase)", First Monday, 26 (9), doi:10.5210/fm.v26i9.12284
April 13, 2024
erase, mathematicians, their, chalkboards, erase, mathematicians, their, chalkboards, photo, essay, book, blackboards, mathematicians, photographed, edited, jessica, wynne, published, 2021, princeton, university, press, contents, background, contents, audience. Do Not Erase Mathematicians and their Chalkboards is a photo essay book on the blackboards of mathematicians It was photographed and edited by Jessica Wynne and published in 2021 by the Princeton University Press Contents 1 Background 2 Contents 3 Audience and reception 4 ReferencesBackground editWynne is a professor of photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City She came to this project through an acquaintance with mathematicians Amie Wilkinson and Benson Farb neighbors of hers in Cape Cod and through a trip to India from which she brought back a set of photographs she had taken of school chalkboards in Jaipur 1 The title of the book harks back to the legend of Archimedes commanding his killer not to erase his circles In modern times adding do not erase as an annotation on a filled up chalkboard is a familiar way to request the preservation of its contents By photographing these chalkboards Wynne has given them significantly more permanence than they otherwise would have 2 Contents editDo Not Erase is formatted as a sequence of 109 two page spreads 3 printed unusually in landscape mode the pages are approximately letter size but wider than they are tall 2 Each spread features a full color photograph of a mathematician s chalkboard generally viewed straight on without visual embellishment 1 although some include scenery visible through nearby windows 4 These are paired with commentary by the same mathematician 3 as well as a brief description of who they are and where they work 1 5 Most of the photographs show the chalkboard in a moment drawn from the mathematician s work on it 1 depicting how mathematicians think work and communicate with each other 5 Some other photographs show chalk drawings that were deliberately created to be photographed for this book The mathematicians themselves are not depicted 1 Many of their comments relate to their tactile pleasure in using chalk to the semi permanence of partially legible erasures from chalkboards and to the pacing the use of chalk imparts to mathematical talks 1 6 Other comments give the story behind the specific notation depicted in the photograph 4 The mathematicians included in this work range from schoolteachers and users of mathematics in other academic disciplines 3 students and junior faculty 1 and prominent research mathematicians including Alain Connes Terence Tao 3 and three other Fields Medalists 1 Audience and reception editOne complaint made by reviewer Athanase Papadopoulos is that the selection of mathematicians in Do Not Erase is very US centric with some major centers of mathematical research in Russia China Japan and India entirely omitted 5 Owen Toller suggests that the glimpses of mathematics seen in the photos will be largely meaningless to many readers giving only an impression of their work that is superficial and extrinsic in a vaguely post modern way 3 Other reviewers are more positive Papadopoulos finds the images beautiful and suggests that the book would make an appropriate gift to a friend 5 Barry Hayes describes the photos as sumptuous 1 Writing from the point of view as a mathematician Adhemar Bultheel calls it a wonderful mirror that could help other mathematicians think about what they do 2 while Elizaveta Dubrovina finds it to be a nostalgic reminder of the tactility of chalk and the conviviality of in person collaboration in what has become a largely online world her choice as a mathematical coffee table book 4 And Edward Valauskas takes issue with Toller s suggestion that this would be incomprehensible to a general audience writing many of the observations by mathematicians in this book on their chalk handiwork are understandable to non mathematically inclined not requiring some sort of futuristic universal translator For that I am quite grateful 6 References edit a b c d e f g h i Hayes Brian 2021 Chalkophilia review of Do Not Erase American Scientist 109 5 Sigma Xi 315 doi 10 1511 2021 109 5 315 S2CID 241194480 a b c Bultheel Adhemar September 2021 Review of Do Not Erase MAA Reviews Mathematical Association of America a b c d e Toller Owen February 2023 Review of Do Not Erase The Mathematical Gazette 107 568 191 doi 10 1017 mag 2023 45 S2CID 256971511 a b c Dubrovina Elizaveta September 2021 The mathematical chalkboard society review of Do Not Erase Nature Physics 17 9 979 doi 10 1038 s41567 021 01343 8 S2CID 239647858 a b c d Papadopoulos Athanase Review of Do Not Erase zbMATH Zbl 1492 00051 a b Valauskas Edward J September 2021 Blackboards and chalk to the rescue review of Do Not Erase First Monday 26 9 doi 10 5210 fm v26i9 12284 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Do Not Erase Mathematicians and Their Chalkboards amp oldid 1207968053, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
