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Exposition

As explained in Everyday Data Visualization

The opening narrative element that establishes the setting, characters, context, and overall tone of a story or visualization.

Exposition is the opening hook that establishes a story’s setting, main characters, context, and overall tone. In visualization, a strong title can play this role by grabbing attention and inviting the viewer to learn more. section 6.1.3

A title as the opening scene

The opening lines of Romeo and Juliet establish place, conflict, and tone. Similarly, “The Dramatic Rise of Rhino Poaching” works as exposition for a visualization by acting as an intriguing hook. section 6.1.3

Use exposition to:

  • Establish the visualization’s subject and tone before the detailed evidence appears. section 6.1.3
  • Create enough curiosity for viewers to continue into the larger narrative. section 6.1.3

How Everyday Data Visualization covers it

How deep it goes
Defines exposition through story structure and maps it to visualization titles, but stops short of implementation detail.
Examples
Uses Romeo and Juliet’s opening lines and a rhino-poaching chart title as examples of exposition.
What you can do after
Apply exposition by choosing an intriguing title that establishes context and hooks attention.
How it connects
Links exposition to rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, titles, subtitles, and analytical insights.
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Related concepts

This explainer was generated by Manning's knowledge graph from the text of Everyday Data Visualization. The section links point to the parts of the book it draws on.