“An updated view of our ever-changing world, with many special areas and basic situations, to help you understand front page news.” – Text, lower center. This striking composition was issued by the Associated Press in late 1969 or early 1970 as a tool to help the American public better understand current events. A central world map offers a straightforward overview of global politics, though I have been unable to decipher what distinguishes the blue nations from the white ones (possibly something to do with state ownership of resources). The upper and lower borders are comprised of inset maps and diagrams that provide details on specific regions or themes. The Vietnam War, Space Race, Soviet/Chinese border disputes, decolonization of Africa, global demographics (including the distribution of ‘races’), the Middle East, and international alliances are all visually explored. An ‘outward-facing’ examination of global events, as the U.S. struggled to reconcile the success of the Moon Landing with the social unrest of the Vietnam War.
