Cartographic
Propaganda
As looked at in this
weeks lecture (Kuttainen 2015) maps and there abilities to empower or
disempower are absolutely profound. I had never looked too deeply into the
origins of maps nor the turbulent truths projected on them. However, typically
looking at a world map most assume that what they are looking at is fact based
information; all the countries are correct size, all are geographically in
place and all have the same importance in creating the world as we know it. However,
Looking at one of this weeks reading it says “Every map is a purposeful selection from everything
that is known, bent to the mapmaker's ends. Every map serves a purpose, Every
map advances an interest” (Wood, Kaiser
& Abramms, 2001, p. 4).
So this got me thinking,
what purpose? What interests are being advanced? How would people historically have known if
the maps are pushing a purpose? Do modern day maps still have an unknown
purpose?
My conclusion mainly
falls into the hands of the information holders. The people with the
information have the knowledge to compare and contrast, were if you are without
relevant information you do not have the necessary building blocks to question
critically. Thankfully we are now in a time where we can go search for
information, we can compare and contrast until we sound crazy. We have a
wealthy abundance of information just look at the Internet and the thousands
upon thousands of books to be read.
Have a watch of this
video to see some disproportions on the world map. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUF_Ckv8HbE
Reference
Kuttainen, V. (2015).
BA1002: Our Space: Networks, Narratives, and the Making of Place, Lecture 4:
Mapping. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://learnjcu.edu.au
Wood, D., Kaiser, W.
L., & Abramms B. (2006). Seeing Through Maps: Many Ways To See The World.
Oxford, Great Britain: New Internationalist.
I would say that all maps have a purpose, if they didn’t then why would they be created in the first place? Even fictional or comedic maps serve a purpose (Kuttainen, 2015). They may not be accurate to the real world navigation, but they certainly have a purpose. It honestly depends on what map you’re after. If you’re after directions to a party, than I’d recommend google maps. If you’re after a Hollywood map to the stars, than the best suggestion would be one of the thousands of side walk sellers in Los Angeles. I believe most maps also have under tone purposes as well. An example of this is countries being larger as that’s where the power is, or the map maker (Kuttainen, 2015). Or to highlight the capital cities for better tourist population and wealth to those areas. Most individuals wouldn’t critically question a map, as they are a known as sense of truth or a fact.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Kuttainen, V. (2015). BA1002: Space: Networks, Narratives, and the making of place, week 4 notes [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au