scale examines the perception of the cost of war.  The underlying data in this work is the list of  coalition troops killed in the Iraq, and was obtained from the website icasualties.org.  This version uses data from March 2003 through April 23, 2007.

Small graphics are displayed in chronological order at the same time as the individuals name and rank are displayed at the bottom of the display.  The graphics are located randomly on the screen. The intent is not to show any organized grouping of the fallen, but rather to give a sence of scale.  Seeing the display fill chronologically imparts a more tangible experience of this loss than simply hearing a single number.   As quickly as the display is updated, the length of time necessary to show all  3329 names gives an additional sense what the number really means.

The states listed for each soldier is also displayed, and the corresponding state is highlighted when the soldier's name appears.

The final color displayed for each soldier denotes their rank as officer or elisted men.  Green denotes privates, seargents, etc. while Purple indicates and officier (lietenant, major, etc.).  The viewer can decide what if any signifcance there is in this color coding.

The purpose of this piece is largely apolitical and makes no stance for or against the war.  Rather, it is an attempt to try and convey the real cost in human life which is often lost in statistics.  less...