NACIS 2016 Presentation
Mark Denil
Most discourse on cartography draws or assumes a clear distinction between 'legitimate' and 'propaganda' maps. The former is by definition a conscientious attempt to map things fairly while the latter is characterized as a scurrilous attempt to deceive and hood-wink. However, because all maps make at least implicit claims to truth, and thus to a positive ethical stance, it is unclear how one is to judge a maps's, or mapmaker's, ethics.What, then, constitutes cartographic ethics? To wit: In what vile part of this propaganda map doth the evil lodge? Tell me, that I may sack the hateful mansion. This talk will briefly examine the issue of cartographic ethics, ethical legitimacy, and ethical practice.
2. They tend to be generalized and often do
not have a specified scale or show the
graticule. The symbolization tends to be
bold and evocative, with elements such as
graphic bomb bursts and tapered arrows,
indicating action and movement. In
addition, explanatory labels are often
incorporated to convey specific details of
the event. Finally, color is sometimes
used to provide even greater visual
impact.
PropagandaPropaganda
2
3. They tend to be generalized and often do
not have a specified scale or show the
graticule. The symbolization tends to be
bold and evocative, with elements such as
graphic bomb bursts and tapered arrows,
indicating action and movement. In
addition, explanatory labels are often
incorporated to convey specific details of
the event. Finally, color is sometimes
used to provide even greater visual
impact.
... simplistic design, with background and
other detail [...] omitted. This often
includes scale, latitude and longitude lines,
roads, and other items that would provide
an accurate frame of reference. Also, an
unsuitable projection is often used (and is
usually unnamed).
PropagandaPropaganda PropagandaPropaganda
JournalismJournalism
X
3
4. They tend to be generalized and often do
not have a specified scale or show the
graticule. The symbolization tends to be
bold and evocative, with elements such as
graphic bomb bursts and tapered arrows,
indicating action and movement. In
addition, explanatory labels are often
incorporated to convey specific details of
the event. Finally, color is sometimes
used to provide even greater visual
impact.
... simplistic design, with background and
other detail [...] omitted. This often
includes scale, latitude and longitude lines,
roads, and other items that would provide
an accurate frame of reference. Also, an
unsuitable projection is often used (and is
usually unnamed).
...predominant characteristics of
simplicity, direct presentation, and
dynamic style
Journalism?Journalism? Propaganda?Propaganda?
4
6. 1. Are there discoverable, testable, and decidable
differences between propaganda maps and other
maps?
2. Can we discover these differences through an
examination of a map's physiognomy?
That is: is there a cartographic difference?
6
7. what is Cartography?what is Cartography?
... a narrative journey of progress from darkness to enlightenment, in the
course of which maps become supposedly more 'accurate' and more 'objective’.
map user ’s Cognitive Realm
map maker ’s Cognitive Realm
misconceptions of Reality
Reality
map user ’s Cognitive Realm
map maker ’s Cognitive Realm
misconceptions of Reality
Reality
B
A
R
R
B
A
R
R
~~
Venn Diagram from: Joel L. Morrison
The Science of Cartography and Its Essential Processes
Cartographica. Monograph 19
7
8. Cartography is the detailed and scientific study of a communication channel.
... a narrative journey of progress from darkness to enlightenment, in the
course of which maps become supposedly more 'accurate' and more 'objective’.
what is Cartography?what is Cartography?
Joel L. Morrison
8
9. ... a narrative journey of progress from darkness to enlightenment, in the
course of which maps become supposedly more 'accurate' and more 'objective’.
In so far as the technical production does not distort the data collected from
the 'real world' the 'good cartographer' is successful, and in so far as the map-
reader interprets the information accurately, he or she is a good map-reader.
Cartography is the detailed and scientific study of a communication channel.
what is Cartography?what is Cartography?
Joel L. Morrison
9
10. what is Cartography?what is Cartography?
... a narrative journey of progress from darkness to enlightenment, in the
course of which maps become supposedly more 'accurate' and more 'objective’.
In so far as the technical production does not distort the data collected from
the 'real world' the 'good cartographer' is successful, and in so far as the map-
reader interprets the information accurately, he or she is a good map-reader.
This scientistic reading of the story of maps and the craft origins of the field of
cartography have each inscribed in our understanding of maps a narrow field
of what counts as a legitimate map.
Cartography is the detailed and scientific study of a communication channel.
Joel L. Morrison
10
11. every map must be
persuasive
every map must be
persuasive
1111
33. good vs bad
true vs false
high vs low
normal vs deviant
sane vs insane
good map vs bad map
legitimate map vs propaganda map
good vs bad
true vs false
high vs low
normal vs deviant
sane vs insane
good map vs bad map
legitimate map vs propaganda map
.
.
.
.
.
D I S C O U R S ED I S C O U R S E
Michel Foucault
33
34. Oil and the US Military
Amy Balkin and Josh On
Empire: No Zone IX. 2004
34
39. We did not call it
Propaganda, for that
word, in German hands,
had come to be
associated with deceit
and corruption.
-George Creel
39
40. 1. Are there discoverable, testable, and decidable
differences between propaganda maps and other
maps?
40
41. 1. Are there discoverable, testable, and decidable
differences between propaganda maps and other
maps?
Y E SY E S
41
42. 1. Are there discoverable, testable, and decidable
differences between propaganda maps and other
maps?
2. Can we discover these differences through an
examination of a map's physiognomy?
That is: is there a cartographic difference?
Y E SY E S
42
43. 1. Are there discoverable, testable, and decidable
differences between propaganda maps and other
maps?
2. Can we discover these differences through an
examination of a map's physiognomy?
That is: is there a cartographic difference?
Y E SY E S
N ON O
43
In what vile part
of this anatomy
Doth the poisonous
propaganda lodge?
Tell me, that I may sack
the hateful mansion.
In what vile part
of this anatomy
Doth the poisonous
propaganda lodge?
Tell me, that I may sack
the hateful mansion.
44. Untitled from Declaration of Greater East Asian Cooperation
published 1942 by the Great Japan Debate Society
44
45. Untitled from Declaration of Greater East Asian Cooperation
published 1942 by the Great Japan Debate Society
45