What the visualization reveals

In the network above, each node represents either a participant or a track from the Voyager Golden Record. The lines (edges) show connections, that is, instances where a participant ranked or selected a particular track. When plotted, Palladio’s layout visually clusters nodes that share multiple connections. In essence, the visualization maps patterns of similarity in taste or perception across participants, a kind of cultural map of shared responses.

While the visualization highlights similarities, it does not explain why these similarities exist. The reasons could be cultural, emotional, perceptual, or sociocultural. For example, some tracks (like “Johnny B. Goode” or “The Magic Flute”) come from Western musical traditions that may feel familiar to participants, especially if they share similar cultural or educational backgrounds.

Rhythmic, harmonic, or melodic qualities might also influence responses, for instance, some people might prefer music in certain keys with minimal repetition others might like lots of variety in keys with no repetition. Some pieces may feel more “human” or “recognizable,” aligning with listeners’ expectations of what music should represent. Factors like age, upbringing, or media exposure could also shape what participants found appealing or meaningful.

Palladio shows who is connected through shared choices, but it cannot capture the underlying motivations or values behind those choices unless qualitative data such as survey comments are included alongside the visualization. For example, a participant may have appreciated a track but found it less emotionally moving than others. Or, they may not have recognized it and therefore didn’t feel confident ranking it. Also, they may have found it culturally distant or simply unfamiliar. I found it interesting that two of my favourite tracks “Johnny B. Goode” and “Percussion” were not chosen by many others. The visualization therefore presents an incomplete picture, it reflects what is measurable, not necessarily what is meaningful.