(Map of US Population Distribution)
Barton and Barton are trying to emphasize in their article that the means and types of mapping have changed over the years, depending on what is deemed important by "consumers" of maps, and because of this, maps are overemphasizing and deemphasizing certain areas and aspects of life. They argue that maps exemplify power structures simply by the way that there are maps that are made and maps that are not made. This power structure is best exemplified in the quote "The map in particular and by implication, visual representations in general are seen as complicit with socio-control mechanisms inextricably linked to power and authority." (53) The idea that the map itself is being created by the author states the fact that the map is important. Obviously, this author has knowledge of map making to some degree, as well as power structures due the definitions of words such as hegemony in the article. The reader does not need to be familiar with cartography to fully understand the point of this article. The authors want there to be a way to make a map that is unbiased and neutral. A map that doesn't create an unequal power structure and doesn't discriminate.
I think that in an ideal world, it would be wonderful to make visual images that have no bias, but I don't think it is possible. All maps are created with a bias, even the free google maps. There are areas that are more photographed than others, and people can pay to have businesses mapped that would tend to direct people to their company. Even companies like Amazon track your purchases "for your convenience" so they can make recommendations for other purchases for you. Their true intention is simply to make more money off the customer.
Are new media maps positive/negative/both?
Are there such things as completely neutral map?
Should we even care if there is a motivation behind the creation of a map? Why?
Tuesday
Digital Mapping
(Map of US Population Distribution)
Barton and Barton are trying to emphasize in their article that the means and types of mapping have changed over the years, depending on what is deemed important by "consumers" of maps, and because of this, maps are overemphasizing and deemphasizing certain areas and aspects of life. They argue that maps exemplify power structures simply by the way that there are maps that are made and maps that are not made. This power structure is best exemplified in the quote "The map in particular and by implication, visual representations in general are seen as complicit with socio-control mechanisms inextricably linked to power and authority." (53) The idea that the map itself is being created by the author states the fact that the map is important. Obviously, this author has knowledge of map making to some degree, as well as power structures due the definitions of words such as hegemony in the article. The reader does not need to be familiar with cartography to fully understand the point of this article. The authors want there to be a way to make a map that is unbiased and neutral. A map that doesn't create an unequal power structure and doesn't discriminate.
I think that in an ideal world, it would be wonderful to make visual images that have no bias, but I don't think it is possible. All maps are created with a bias, even the free google maps. There are areas that are more photographed than others, and people can pay to have businesses mapped that would tend to direct people to their company. Even companies like Amazon track your purchases "for your convenience" so they can make recommendations for other purchases for you. Their true intention is simply to make more money off the customer.
Are new media maps positive/negative/both?
Are there such things as completely neutral map?
Should we even care if there is a motivation behind the creation of a map? Why?
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3 comments
I believe new media maps can be both positive and negative, depending on how they are used. The user has to be aware that there are likely ulterior motives for the creation of the map so that they are not trapped into what the author of the map or the contributing business wants, which is likely a way to make money off the user. The usefulness of new media maps should not be underestimated but certain precautions should be taken when dealing with the new media maps and the user has to realize that, whether intentional or not, there is a bias. I do not believe there are completely neutral maps. Even just the focal point of the map suggests bias. I believe we should care about whether or not there is a motivation behind the creation of the map because it will enable the user to decipher the message the artist is trying to convey. If the user does not catch on to the motivation behind the creation of the map, it will be much easier to believe their bias or end up spending more money than what they had wanted to spend.
I do not believe that there is such a thing as a completely neutral map. Every map is created for a specific purpose, making it biased by nature. A map is a condense version of information; only the creator will have complete insight behind the system used to formulate and convey information. Since a hierarchy is needed in order to distinguish what to relay on a map (because every detail cannot be recorded), every map is biased on some level.
I think that to analyze the map beyond more than what it is trying to tell us at face value would be incorrect. The reason for this belief is that because in order for a map to truly be analyzed and found neutral, it would have to map every single detail of every aspect of the world, and this is just improbable, and probably impossible. Therefore, we must take a map and look at it for what it's worth on the surface. What does this map show a picture of? Is this map valid and reliable in the sense that it depicts what it is supposed to depict (that which it claims it depicts) and does that it depicts it consistently; according to distances, norms, etc. Saying that a map is a negative effect is without a doubt controversial, as maps have allowed travelers, collectors of information, and countless bored individuals to explore "terrain" and find answers to their questions that otherwise would not be possible. WIth that, I feel it is safe to conclude that maps are mostly of positive affect on society and will be continued to be used to enhance user information across a broad range of area and technology.
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