Toporefs and Chronotopic Archetypes

This dense map contains several topological curiosities, the most notable of which is the use of the children’s adventure fantasies as bridging points between various chronotopic types, creating a wheel that defines their 'reality'. 'Holly Howe', 'The Island', 'Sydney Harbour', 'The Arctic', and 'Treasure Island' are all worlds apart – literally – but come together to create a comprehensive world of imaginative play. The constant shifts in their focus and style of play results in a number of spots changing their name over the course of the narrative, and a core component is their re-naming of the region to better fit their vision. Thus generic spaces often become charged with personal meaning as the tale progresses. The landing-place stands at the heart of this map, as it forms the key to all of their adventures – their means of accessing the island, and of all the imaginative opportunities that allows. This visualisation shows the extent to which a lot of descriptions take place across a relatively small region, but are approached from a variety of creative engagements (and interpretations). There are a few unavoidable repeated entries that connect only to one chronotope in their individual guises as the same spot is often encountered in radically different contexts. The form of play constantly shifts and their small world takes on a new form and meaning each time, hence the high level of interconnection and juxtaposed separation.