Exploring the Unreal: Cartographic Literacy and Social Justice
Abstract
At the most basic level, a map is a representation of space. When teaching with maps it is essential to have a holistic understanding that maps are created by people as tools, they represent the ideas and views of their makers, are used to exert control and power, and act as snapshots of the period in which they were produced. This presentation will discuss how we use a library’s map collection focused on imaginary and unreal locations in cartographic literacy instruction. We will address three points through a social justice lens: (1) maps as constructs and reinforcers of colonialism, (2) the importance of identifying who, why, and when a map was created, and (3) the subversive power of intellectual and allegorical mapping.
Description
This presentation was given at the 2021 annual meeting of the Western Association of Map Libraries, held virtually on October 26 - October 29.Subject
MapsImaginary Maps
Social Justice
Critical Cartography
Cartographic Literacy
Information Literacy
Department
University LibrariesCollections
Citation
Laddusaw, Sierra; Hebert, Shelby (2021). Exploring the Unreal: Cartographic Literacy and Social Justice. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /194899.
The following license files are associated with this item: