Seeing Through Maps
Introduction: ¨ continue the exploration through he rest of this book. ¨ be challenged regarding their assumptions about the world. Chapter 1: The Multiple Truths of the Mappable World ¨ understand that a map is only ONE point of view, ONE perspective. ¨ be aware that all maps are inherently biased. ¨ discover some of the purposes for which maps are created. ¨ be able to identify that the Mercator projection's exclusive purpose is for navigation. ¨ recognize the extreme size distortions of the Mercator. ¨ become exposed to cartographic concepts like "great circles," "generalization" and "conformality." ¨ understand how the shortest distance between two points (on the Mercator) is NOT a straight line. ¨ understand how shapes can be changed depending upon your perspective or frame of reference. Chapter 2: The Many Ways of Making Maps ¨ understand how the value of a map depends upon the degree to which it serves its intended purpose. ¨ be able to explain how map projection works (simple explanation of light bulb inside a cylinder). ¨ be able to explain how the "orange peel" phenomenon creates distortions as we ¨ move from a round globe to a flat map. ¨ be able to explain an equal-area map, and how equal area projections ¨ necessitate shape distortions. ¨ be able to explain how any one projection cannot contain both true shape and true area. ¨ become exposed to cartographic concepts like "graticule," "gores" and "azimuthal." ¨ understand how the Peters projection (1973) was an extension of the work of other cartographers (Lambert, 1772; and Gall, 1885; and others). ¨ understand that there are numerous options for equal-area maps. ¨ be introduced to the concept of "compromise" projections. Chapter 3: Unpacking the Map ¨ be able to explain the concept of an equidistant projection. ¨ be able to explain why some people consider the Mercator a "terrible" map. ¨ be able to explain why the Mercator is such a popular map. ¨ understand how the Mercator has become an icon of Western superiority. ¨ understand how maps we create tend to naturally exaggerate the importance of the areas we are most familiar with. ¨ be able to match up the concept of "spaceship earth" with the name of Buckminster Fuller and the image of the Dymaxion World Map. ¨ be able to recall the five questions to ask about any map projection. ¨ learn to identify some of the biases that may be inherent in any projection. Chapter 4: Three Popular Compromise Projections ¨ be able to name the three most well known compromise projections (Van der Grinten, Robinson, and Winkel Tripel). ¨ be able to explain why an "upside down" projection (with South at the top) isn't necessarily WRONG. ¨ recall how other maps in history used directions other than North as the top of the map. ¨ speculate on reasons why the National Geographic Society changed its official projections over time. ¨ understand how there exists a lineage of cartographic history going back hundreds of years. ¨ assert and explain how there is no one best view of the earth. ¨ understand how multiple perspectives are necessary to get closer to the truth of how things really are. Chapter 5: Pushing the Boundary of the Map ¨ understand that the Van Sant Geosphere Map is a collage. ¨ be able to explain how an interrupted projected enables a map to be more area-accurate. ¨ be able to connect the loss of adjacency on an interrupted projection to the loss of adjacency on a rectilinear map. ¨ explain how Robinson's projection was made to "look right" by trial-and-error. ¨ understand how maps omit things like clouds, night, human activity, etc. ¨ explain how a map is like a painting (the cartographer chooses colors). ¨ be able to articulate the difference between what a maps is, and what that given map implies (denotation versus connotation). ¨ be able to explain to another person the data represented on the Minard map of Napoleon's invasion of Russia. ¨ be able to explain what data was omitted from Petit's map of the Black Diaspora and why it was left off. ¨ be able to explain the features that were generalized on the map Beck created for the London underground (and why the map WORKS!). ¨ when presented with a map, be able to ask questions regarding what data is left out and hypothesize reasons why a given map might have a tendency to deceive us (deliberately or otherwise). Chapter 6: The Power of Images ¨ be able to explain why clock run "clockwise." ¨ link the concept of "bellybutton" to cartography. ¨ distinguish between "East" as a direction and "East" as a location. ¨ explain why Columbus was "lucky" to find land. ¨ explore and research alternative views of Columbus. Chapter 7: Seeing Through Maps ¨ be able to recall at least 5 out of the 14 listed purposes maps have. ¨ in the month following reading this book, be able to list an additional three purposes of maps they come across in their daily lives. ¨ explain how a map of a piece of land would look differently if mapped from an ecological perspective versus a commercial/capitalist perspective. ¨ explain how bias underlies any choice of map representation. ¨ be able to explain "The world we know depends upon how we see it." ¨ be able to ask, "How would this look from a different point of view?" ¨ explain how the most important part of the eye is the feet. ¨ explain to someone who hasn't read the book, "what the truth is!"
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