Erwerbstätige Bevölkerung der Erde

Erwerbstätige Bevölkerung der Erde

Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft, Plate #82, "Worldwide Employment". This plate shows the distribution of various occupations across different parts of the world. Isotype's visual representation makes it immediately obvious that in some parts of the world—particularly Asia and the Indian sub-continent—a large percentage of the population work as small, subsistence farmers (the green symbols). In other parts of the world—notably in North and South America—people are more likely to work in factories, on large farms, or at professional occupations. Neurath believed that many people's lives had not changed since the Middle Ages: indeed, he believed the Middle Ages would not end until everyone "can participate in a common culture and the canyon between educated and uneducated people has disappeared" ("From ‘Vienna Method' to ‘Isotype'" 224). He designed Isotype to serve two functions: first, to clearly and accurately describe the modern world and, second, to thereby foster greater "communication and understanding" and "the organized building of a better civilization" (225).

Neurath, Otto, 1882-1945

still image

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