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Critical cartography
Encyclopedia
Critical Cartography is a set of new map
ping practices and theoretical critique grounded in critical theory
. It differs from academic cartography
in that it links geographic knowledge with power, and thus is political. The term critique defines not just a simple analysis and rejection of concepts or practices.
Critical cartographers do not aim to invalidate maps instead the critique is careful analysis of maps identifying attributes of the maps that are taken for granted. The eventual hope is to better understand the maps and gain more knowledge.
, formerly a professor in Geography at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, the field of cartography has flourished with theories and writing that identify maps as social issues and expressions of power and knowledge. Leading figures that have picked up where Harley left off include Denis Cosgrove
, Denis Wood
, Jeremy Crampton, John Krygier, and Kevin St. Martin. Maps are now viewed as potential sites of power and knowledge. They are sources of knowledge of geography, places and people. The aim of Critical Cartography is to reduce the gap between a more technically oriented map design and a more theoretically analysis of power in society.
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
ping practices and theoretical critique grounded in critical theory
Critical theory
Critical theory is an examination and critique of society and culture, drawing from knowledge across the social sciences and humanities. The term has two different meanings with different origins and histories: one originating in sociology and the other in literary criticism...
. It differs from academic cartography
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
in that it links geographic knowledge with power, and thus is political. The term critique defines not just a simple analysis and rejection of concepts or practices.
Critical cartographers do not aim to invalidate maps instead the critique is careful analysis of maps identifying attributes of the maps that are taken for granted. The eventual hope is to better understand the maps and gain more knowledge.
Current state of critical cartography
Since the 1991 death of J.B HarleyJohn Brian Harley
Brian Harley was a geographer, cartographer, and map historian at the universities of Birmingham, Liverpool, Exeter and Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He is the founding co-editor of...
, formerly a professor in Geography at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, the field of cartography has flourished with theories and writing that identify maps as social issues and expressions of power and knowledge. Leading figures that have picked up where Harley left off include Denis Cosgrove
Denis Cosgrove
Denis E. Cosgrove was an Alexander von Humboldt Professor of Geography at the University of California, Los Angeles...
, Denis Wood
Denis Wood
Denis Wood is an artist, author, cartographer and a former professor of Design at North Carolina State University. Born in 1945, Wood grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, receiving a BA in English from then Western Reserve University . He received an MA and a PhD in geography from Clark University, in...
, Jeremy Crampton, John Krygier, and Kevin St. Martin. Maps are now viewed as potential sites of power and knowledge. They are sources of knowledge of geography, places and people. The aim of Critical Cartography is to reduce the gap between a more technically oriented map design and a more theoretically analysis of power in society.