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The Map ENVSOCTY 1HA3 Society, Culture and Environment  Dr. Melanie Bedore Welcome back! Unit 1: Introduction to human geography and environment & society 1: Introduction & Course overview: What is human geography? 2: Key concepts in human geography I 3: Ke...

The Map ENVSOCTY 1HA3 Society, Culture and Environment  Dr. Melanie Bedore Welcome back! Unit 1: Introduction to human geography and environment & society 1: Introduction & Course overview: What is human geography? 2: Key concepts in human geography I 3: Key concepts in human geography II 4: The map Readings: Chapter 1 pg 22-36 section 1 4. Outline What are maps? Thinking critically about maps Key considerations for producing and understanding maps Scale Perspective Projections Loading… Tools Map Types Reading: Chapter 1, section: Pages:  What is a map? A two-dimensional graphical representation of the world; a device used to a) communicate info and b) analyze spatial prob Locations of towns & cities; property boundaries; the distribution of poverty in Hamilton; the diffusion of contagious disease A necessary: abstraction of a complex reality What does this mean? has to be scaled down version a of reality Maps are partial, incomplete, and political “[…] The world isn’t flat, but that’s what you’d think if you took any map literally. Maps don’t show reality, they give you a way of visualizing it. Loading… Every map focuses on some things and leaves other things out. Making a map means making choices about what’s important to you. What the world is really, truly, like in every single detail doesn’t matter; what matters is what specifically about the world you want to show.” K. Milford, Ghosts of  Greenglass House (2017) Thinking critically about maps Maps are not ‘natural’; they are made by people Maps reflect:the power of the ppl that draw them They reflect: agendas interests, biases , As consumers of maps, how can we read maps them with a critical eye??? Thinking critically about maps Maps can also reflect the: limits of our current knowledge Thinking critically about maps Maps are political and cultural. They both create and reflect: Cultural worldviews, biases in a certain time and space Anxieties, preoccupations Justification for necessary action Example: Thinking critically about maps Maps can be used as statements of power and authority e.g. The British Empire " 11 The sun never sets the empire on Key considerations for producing, interpreting and understanding maps Key consideration #1: Scale Scale: Indicates the spatial relationship between real-world locations, distances and areas, and: their representation on the map Loading… All maps are scaled representations of the real world - Scale is typically expressed as a ratio (e.g. 1:50,000) or a representative fraction (e.g. 1/50,000) Example: 1 cm on the map is equivalent to: Key consideration #1: Scale How can we judge ‘large scale’ vs. ‘small scale’? Let’s start with a representative fraction: 1/50,000 is a pretty small number (0.00002) 1/250,000 is an even SMALLER number (0.000004) Therefore: a map at a 1/250,000 scale is a SMALLER SCALE - map than one at 1/50,000 - However, this 1/250,000 scale map actually portrays a - much LARGER area - small scale Here lies the confusion: large area =  Key consideration #1: Scale ‘Large scale’ vs. ‘small scale’ Small scale maps show: large areas Generally depict: very little detail 000 1/50 Large scale maps show: smaller areas , 11250 , 000 ↑ Generally have greater levels of detail - O Large scale Small scale Key consideration #2: Perspective Perspective: How is the map ‘oriented’? Are there tools to allow me to orient myself on the map? "north arrow" or a "compass rose" Typically, we orient north at the top…but not always TOMap Key consideration #2: Perspective Why create an ‘antipocentric’ map that is: south-oriented at the top is better what's Key consideration #2: Perspective Why does it matter which ocean gets the central position on a map? Atlantic-centric and the “European World-View” Pacific-centric and the “Asian World-View” There is no ‘correct’ map perspective; instead, let’s consider the author’s intentions and biases central space of the map Key consideration #3: Projection The challenge: How do you portray a 3-D sphere in 2-D? Imagine peeling an orange in one piece What happens if you try to squish it flat? There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ but humans‘ choice of map projection is political and serves different interests Let’s see an example (A longer scene from this West Wing episode is available here) Check out text boxes 1.6 and 1.7 for - more on Mercator vs. Gall-Peters Key consideration #4: Tools Q. How do modern-day mapmakers make maps? A. GIS: Geographic Info Science A tool for analyzing complex spatial problems Maps multiple layers of data, shows interactions interactions Useful for urban planning and many other fields See SEES’ GIS website Learn more from ESRI’s website Key consideration #5: Map type We’re accustomed to seeing maps like this. Are there other types? What do we use them for? Key consideration #5: Map type Dot Maps: Reveal patterns of: spatial concentration (clustering or dispersion e.g. Density, origins, or diffusion of a disease Key consideration #5: Map type Choropleth maps: Communicate information using colour, shading e.g. Population density, growth/decline, aging, etc. Key consideration #5: Map type Isopleth Maps: Use colour to connect: locations of equal data value e.g. Rainfall, temperature, frost zones, etc. Key consideration #5: Map type particular attributes Cartograms: Space is: distorted to emphasize e.g. Electoral outcomes, population sizes, etc. Wrapping up for today Critical ways of reading and producing maps A necessary abstractions of reality Cultural and political documents Gateways to understanding history, power, and human knowledge Scale, perspective, projections, tools, map types Next class: Cultural geography Readings: Chapter 6, sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.4 Pages: Also next week: Language, section: