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Article analysis:

The article discusses the use of data visualization to tell stories about cultural collections, particularly focusing on the relationship between data, visualization, and narrative. The author argues that visualizations can be used not only to show "just the data" but also to tell a story using visual rhetorical devices such as trees and streams. The role of interaction in negotiating the tension between communicators'/researchers' desire to tell stories about their discoveries and the need for users to interact freely is explored.

The paper provides a literature survey on the topic and describes the methods used in building prototype visualizations/visualization tools with digital collections across a range of conceptual domains. The author's recent work with a collection of historic public health reports from the Wellcome Library is presented as an example, where commentary and attitudes around particular themes through time are traced through text content.

While the paper presents interesting insights into using data visualization for storytelling, it has some limitations. For instance, it does not explore counterarguments or potential risks associated with using data visualization for storytelling. Additionally, there is no discussion on how biases may affect the interpretation of data or how different audiences may interpret visualizations differently.

Furthermore, while the paper acknowledges that museums encourage users to construct their own narratives and explore, it does not provide enough evidence on how this approach affects user engagement or learning outcomes. Finally, while the paper suggests future works related to exploring literary narrative devices that can be translated into visual terms and rapid apprehension supported from uncluttered displays, it does not provide concrete steps on how these can be achieved.

In conclusion, while this paper provides valuable insights into using data visualization for storytelling in cultural institutions, it could benefit from more thorough exploration of potential biases and risks associated with this approach. Additionally, more research is needed on how different audiences engage with visualizations and how museums can balance author-driven and reader-driven narratives effectively.