Consider these maps of the United States (with possible extensions to Canada), as well as their sources), and comment on them considering either or more of the "three general ways to approach maps" presented by Jeremy W. Crampton in his article, "Mappings" (anthology, pp. 86-91): i) as material form; ii) as knowledge(s); iii) as practice and performance:
US Geography for Kids, Kids Academy (2020)
In Joel Garreau, The Nine Nations of North America, 1981
Map of Colonial America before 1776 (Culture Club / Getty Images)
First map: In practice and performance, this map changes the way we would otherwise look at the land and it's inhabitants. For instance, 2 cousins living in different towns, both located on the southern shore of lake Erie, may see themselves as culturally very different, because one lives in western Ohio and is a proud Midwesterner, and the other in Pennsylvania, wich for synthetic reasons was deemed part of a different region.
ReplyDeleteSecond map: As a document of knowledge, we can read different power relations, perceptions, but also natural characteristics of the regions. The rainy pacific northwest is a heaven of lush forests that resembles a ecotopia. The vast and scarcely populated desert like, mountainous and often cold regions to it's west are mostly empty in comparison. Further on, the great plains are mostly known and used for it's intensive cereal plantations. To the Southwest, the ethnical and cultural influence of latin mexico gives those states a different character. The traditional south, is very much a construct, inherited from the confederate states that fought against the union during the 1861-65 civil war. The Northwestern foundry region is a reference to the vast coal deposits that kick-started industrialization in the 19 century. For instance, Scranton Pennsylvania, where the current US president used to live, has a mining tradition that feed heavy industries all over the country's guilded age and after. New England is an historical reference to the northern 13 colonies, originally settled by mostly English puritan's. Quebec refeers to the french speaking part of Canada, wich also informs us on the differentiated human nature of that region.
The first map, from Kids Academy, is a map of knowledge. The main point of achievement is not only to create knowledge in how kids can geopgraphically position themselves and be able to situate, but also differentiate the multiple areas of the US by color and zones.
ReplyDeleteThe second map relates to the the mapping aproach of practice and performance. Considering this type of map provkes an effect on how the viewers can visualize the distinct cultures, economies and forms of production of the north america's nine states.
The third and fourth map also fall in the same category of the last one. The author refers "maps frame our understanding of spatial distributions (...)", therefore this type of mapping allows the the viewers to understand the past geographical territories and its borders. These maps are thematic maps because they presen a description of a specific topic - colonies/colonialism.