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    4 views19 pages

    Monmonier PDF

    Uploaded by

    ItaAhris

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 19
    Changer 1 INTRODUCTION yt Not only ist easy to ie with maps,’ essential To portray meaningfal zelationships for a complex, three-dimensional ‘world ana fat sheet of paper or a video server a map must istort reality. Asa sale model, the map must use symbols, that almost always ae proportionally much bigger or thicker than the festures they represent. To avoid hiding cial im formation in a fog of deal, the map must offer a select incomplete view of reality. There's no escape fe the eato- ‘raphe paradox to present a useful and trthful picture, an Sccurate map must el white les. Because most map usees willingly tolerate white les on maps, isnot dificult for maps also to ell more serious lies. Map users generally are «trsting lot they understand the need to distor geometry and suppress featores, and they bnlieve the cartographer reilly does know where to dra the Tne, figuratively as well as Iiterally. AS with many things beyond their Fill understanding, they readily entrust map making to a priesthood of technically competent designers And drafters working for government agencies and commer ‘alms, Yet cartographers are not iensed, and many map makers competent in commercial art the tse of computer ‘workstations have never studied cartography. Map uses dom ever, question these authorities, and they often fai to appreciate the map’s pote asa tool of deliberate falsification ‘oF subtle propaganda Becnise of personal computers and electronic publishing, imap users can now easily le to themeelves-—and be unaware ‘offt Before the personal computer folk cartography consist fd largely of hand-drawn maps giving directions. The dir tion giver had full control over pencil and paper and usual Chapter One /2 had no difficulty wansferring routes, landmarks, and other relevant recollections from mind to map. The computer al lows programmers, marketing experts, ad other anonymous middlemen without cartographic savvy to strongly influence the lok of the map and gives modern-day folk maps the esp type, uniform symbols, and versimilitue of maps from the cartographic priesthood, Yet software developers commonly Ihave mate it easy forthe lay cartographer t select an inap- propriate projection ora misleading set of symbols. Because ff advances in low-cost computer graphics, inadvertent yet Serious cartographic les can appear respectable and accurate ‘The potential for cartographic mischief extends well be- yond the deliberate suppression used by some cartographer: politicians and the electronic blunders made by the cart- fraphically ignorant. any single caveat can alert map users to theirunheathy but widespread natveté tis thate single map 1 but one of on indefintly large numberof maps tht might be produce or the same situation o rm the same data, The alles Feflct an academic Ifetime of browbeating undergraduates ‘with this obvios but readily ignored warning, Hv easy Is to forget, and how revealing to recall that map authors can ‘experiment freely with features, measurements, area of cover- !age, and symbols and can pick the map that best presents their fase or supports their unconscious bas. Map users must be [Ware thal cartographic license is enormously broad “The purpose ofthis book sto promote «healthy skepticism about maps, not to foster either eynicism or deliberate dishon testy. In showing how tole with maps, Twantto make readers ware that maps, like speeches and paintings, are suthored Collections of information and also ae subject to distortions arising fomgnorance greed, ideological blindness, or malice Examining the misuses of maps also provides an interest Ing introdtion to the nature of maps and their range of appropriate uses. Chapter 2 considers as potential sores of ‘lstortion the map's main elements: see, projection, and Symbolization. Chapter 3 further purses the effects of scale by examining the various white les cartographers jst necessary generalization, and chapter looks at common, blunders resulting from the mapmaker’s ignorance or over. sight. Chapter treats the seductive use of symbols in adver- Using maps, and chapter 6 explores exaggeration and sup- Invasion / 3 pression in maps prepared for development plans and env ronmental impact statements. Chapters 7 and 8 examine dis torted maps tsed by governments as politcal propaganda ands “disinformation” formitary opponents. Thenext two Chapters ae particularly relevant fo users oF mapping, sf ‘ware and electron publishing chapter 9 addresses distortion {nd self deception i statistical maps made from census data And other quantitative information, and chapter 10 looks at Tow a cateless of Machiavellian choice of colors can confuse ‘or mislead the map viewer. Chapter If concludes By noting mapa’ dual and sometimes conflicting roles and by recom mending a skeptical assessment ofthe map author’s motives. “Abook about hove te with maps can be more ssf than «book about how to lie with words. Afterall, everyone is famuliar with verbal lies, nefarious as well as white, and is ‘wary about how words can be manipulated. Our schools {cach thee pupils tobe cautious consumers who read the fine print and between the lins, and the public has a guarded respect for advertising law, marketing, politics, public rel tons, iting and other occupations requiring ski in verbal ‘manipulation Yet education nthe use of maps and diagrams EE spotty and limited, and many otherwise educated people are graphically and cartographically literate. Maps, ke ‘numbers, are often arcane images accorded undue respect and ‘credibility This book's principal goal i to dispel this arto [graphic mystique and promote a more informed use of maps bhsed upon an understanding and appreciation of their flex bility as’ medium of comminiatin, The book's insights can be especially useful for those who right more effectively use maps i ther work oF a cizens Fighting environmental deterioration or social il. ‘The in formed skeptic becomes a perceptive map author, better able to describe locational characters and explain geographic we Uonships as wells better equipped to recognize and counter the self-serving anguments of bated or dishonest mapmakers. ‘Where a deep mistrust of maps reflects ether ignorance of how maps work or a bad personal experience With maps, tls book can help overcome an unhealthy skepticism called ci. fophobia” Maps nesd be no more threatening or less teliable ‘han words, and rejecting or avoiding oF ignoring maps Is fakin to the mindless fears of iliterates who regard books 35 ‘Chapter One / + evil or dangerous. This book's revelations about how maps. must be white lies but may sometincs become real les shoud provide the same sort of reassuring knowledge that allows ‘humans to contro and exploit fie and elect. Chapter 2 ELEMENTS OF THE MaP XK “Maps have three basic attributes: sae, projection, and sym Bollzation, Each element isa source of distortion. Asa group, they describe th essence ofthe map’s posites and limita tions, None can use maps or make maps safely and effectively ‘without understanding map seals, map projections, and map symbols Seale Most maps ate stale than the reality they represent, and tnap seals tellus how anach smaller,” Map ca state their Silein thice ways a ato, a a short sentence, and as a Simple graph. Figure 21 shows some typical satements of map scale Toto sales relate one unt of distance on the map to a speci istaner onthe ground. The uns must be the same, SEihata rato of 110,000 means that a Tinch ine on the map Fepresents 2 100:inch stretch of oad-—or tat 1 cenineter fepresens 10000 centimeters oft stand "1000 feet. ‘Rvtongas they ae the came, the units dort mater and need tot be sated the ratio sale sa dimensionles number By Srovention, the prt of the ratio tothe Ie ofthe colon is sways “Some mapsstate the ratio scale asa fraction, but both forms havethe ame meaning, Whether he mapmaker uses 1:2000 671/24 000i solely a matter of syle rational statements hep the user compare map scales. ‘Ascale of 1/10,000 (or 110,000) i larger than a scale of 1/250 90 (or 125,00) becase 1/1000 1 a larger faction than 1/280,000, Recall tht snl factions have big denomi- Chapter six 6 Sie aa amenities han he oe with th scond highs SS essa faganty bon plying snk the newromer” your ais il snd Snr mesa tat Youn fly pope to ears the fond ls hey Thcsnepproacadjunen you e ac nto ne ey “hugh he tone ofthis chapter ici hans to rake You sepia about how ae Pope map tt Srl dou nape pment, Unoteig cao anton W pert sobeinganinerme izes rs erg opp ran age Sate crronme I icving tape sen foe ime hata prea ew ay ora a) mottheoly view and iot ecto red apronmaton Sou Wiieipieecininiors sien. Chapter 7 ‘Mavs For PourticaL PROPAGANDA xe iS ‘good propagandist knows how to shape opinion by mac ipulating maps. Poitial persuasion often concern trite. ial claims, nationalities, tational pride, honders,seategic Positions, conquests, attacks, top movements, defenses, spheres of influence, regional inequality and other geograpie Phenomena conveniently portrayed cartographica The Propagandist molds the map's message by: emphasizing supporting features, suppressing contradictory information and choosing provocative, dramatic symbols” People ts, ‘maps, and intriguing maps atract the eye as well as connote authority. Naivecitizens willingly accept as tat maps btced ‘oma Biased and sometimes faudlent selection of acs Although all three manipulate opinion, the propagandist’ goals differ from those of the advertiser and the resbestate developer: Both the advertiser andthe polite propaganlist attempt to generate demand, but the advertise tll prt ‘orservce,notan ideology. Both the advertiser and the prop. fandist attempt to lower public waistance or to improve a ‘ague oF tarnished image, but the advertiser's objectives sre commercial and financial, whereas the propoganist’ are siplomatic and military. Both the real-estate developer snd ‘he political propagandist seek approval or permission, bat the developer is concerned with & much smaller terior, ‘often uninhabited, and seldom acts nately without ofl sanction. Although both the realestate developer and the Propagandist fce opponents, the developer usually confronts _groups of neighboring property owners, environmentalist, storie preservationist, whereas the propagandist commen iy confronts voeal thn minority, another country, an allan of countries, an opposing ideology, o 8 widely accepted Chapter Seven / #6 standard of ight and wrong. Because propaganda maps are ino ly oe to ones abe than x he tical propapandist hos «greater opportanty than el EResaivertseco the reaentate developer 0 stort realty by Iarpulting he projection an ng ofthe map “Ts chaper explores the maps vari and vrata as an instrument of pital propaganda. Itefist section exam ines how maps function as politcal ions—symbol of power, uthority an nana unity. Next the chapter looks 3 hs trap profectins can inflate or Gimiish the are ane relative Importance of countries and eps and how a map pejection a ite! become 2 sling pot for eatographally op- presed regions A ind seco examines the manipulations EF Nod propagandists, who used maps to fst German xpanson beers Workd War I nd toy to keep Ameria outa. A final section focuses on a fe fave symbols of cog propane om: ton hes ‘nd placenames Cartographic Icons Big and Small: ‘Maps as Symbols of Power and Nationhood “Te map is the perfect symbol of the state your grand iuchy ov tribal ape seems tied run-down, and ayed atthe ‘cigs, simply take a sheet of paper, plot sme ce, roads She phys features awa heavy distin boundary around ‘Simuch erry ae you dare cin, clit add name— perhaps reinforced withthe impeesive prefix “Republic a™— Tr pret: you ae now the adr of Rew vere, aton- mous county. should nyore doubt merely point to the fap. Not ony i your new stateon papers. ap, 0 rust be re Tiths mapaesymbol-thestate concep seems fetched, consider the national atves England and Prance produced n thelatesteenthcentry Elzabeth1of England commissioned {Chrstophersaion to Carry out country Topographic Save of Enpamd and Wes ato publish the maps in an aporatehand-colored las. Im adn to providing infor tration sel for governing her Kingdom, the aa bound {Dpether maps of the varous English counties and asserted Maps for Plital Propaganda /2 their unity under Elzabeth’s rule, Rich in symbolism, the Bass fromispiece (ig. 71, lel) was a heavy, decorated engraving thal denied the queen a a patton of Geopaphy tnd astronomy. A ew decades Iter, flemy IVof France Celebrated the recent eunfication of hs kingdom by com missioning Booksller Maurice Bouguereau to prepare 0 Sinvloly detailed and decorated tae Like Sinton = ais Le ia fogs incaes an ipesive engraving ig. 71 Tigh procaiming the glory of ling and Wangdon. tn both Mave eplonal maps provid geographic detail and sin gle overview map of the ettne county averted national The spate of newly independent states formed ater World Worl revived the nations atlas ta symbol of sationood Although » few countries in western Eorope and North ‘America ad satesponsred hational atlases i the late ‘netenth and erly went centric, these served lngely 2 reference works and symbols of scene achevenent between THD and 1980 the number of national aces Chapter Seven / 50 increased ffom fewer than twenty to more than eighty, as forme colonies turned fo carlography 28a tool of Bath e

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