ENV-357 Making Maps: Creative Cartography
Maps select and use symbols and representations that argue for a particular interpretation of the world. These visual arguments reflect assumptions about how to categorize and prioritize groups of people and spaces. This course opens by examining map “vocabulary” and practicing detailed conceptual analysis of others’ maps, considering possible symbols and elements for use in maps with an emphasis on how these symbols correlate to assumptions about what is true and valuable. Students spend time evaluating the representation of information on both historical and contemporary maps, and over the term will make a complex map of their own which tells a story important to them. The class will also examine the recent evolution of cartographic technology with a focus on how digital technologies have affected our ability to perceive the prejudices embedded in maps.