The Practice of Mapmaking

Bridging the Gap between Critical/Textual and Ethnographical Research Methods

Bibliographic Data

ID14701666
AuthorsEdoardo Boria (0000-0002-0709-3444, Sapienza University of Rome, corresponding author), T Rossetto (0000-0002-9877-907X, University of Padua)
Year2017
Volume52
Issue1
Pages32-48
Publication date2017-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCartographica The International Journal for Geographic Information and Geovisualization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0317-7173 • E-ISSN: 1911-9925
PublisherUniversity of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3138/cart.52.1.3790
OpenAlexW2594231941
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited38

The recent shift from representation to practice within map theorization has led to a renewed interest in mapmaking calling for both closer attention to the practices involved and the employment of ethnographic methodologies in researching how maps come to life. A deep understanding of the making of maps, however, requires a combination of different approaches, from the critical (text-oriented) to the ontogenetic (practice-oriented), from deconstruction to narrative ethnography, and from cultural contextual readings to subjects-centred readings. Two map scholars with very different backgrounds (phenomenology and political geography) seek to put these different approaches into action while investigating mapmaking through a single case study. The life and work of Laura Canali, who has created maps for Limes: Rivista Italiana di Geopolitica (the leading publication in Italy in the field of international relations) since 1993, are analyzed to show how ethnography and critical reading are better used as complementary rather than conflicting approaches. Comparison of the methodological framework applied here with more traditional approaches employed in the field of historical cartography provides evidence of present-day changes in mapmaking and calls for an enhancement of new practice-oriented methods of analysis. Finally, additional insights from creativity studies suggest that there is an interesting line of research on “cartographic creativity” to be further developed

Art · Cartography · Creativity · Deconstruction (building · Epistemology · Ethnography · Field (mathematics · Geography · Humanities · Literature · Narrative · Political science · Politics · Representation (politics · Sociology · Anthropology · Geographic Information Systems Studies · Geography Education and Pedagogy · Historical Geography and Geographical Thought · Law · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology

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