How Powerful are Maps?
They are still considered the ultimate symbol of objectivity: maps depict the world as it really is. With a vertical view from above, the viewer can see everything. Especially since Google Maps and similar applications have made the “world” available on our mobile phones, we hardly ever doubt the “truth” of maps anymore. But this is not the case, and we know it. A map is always an interpretation of the world and not the world itself. It starts with the drawing, which is always an abstraction of a complicated situation—for example, topography! Added to this is the selection of content that is displayed on the map. Not everything that actually exists in the world “out there” can be found on the map. No wonder, then, that maps are an expression of the power of those who commission them. In recent decades, however, a new discipline has developed: “critical cartography” questions conventions and methods and shows us how easily we can be deceived by seemingly objective maps. So it's complicated. But help is at hand! The documentary “How powerful are maps” from ARTE explains the impact of maps and mapping in a light-hearted and precise manner. It is also available in French and German.
