For this assignment, please read “Recognizing and Disrupting Immappancy” in Week 14 Readings. The article is long and makes most of the key points by the end of p. 282, before going into extended examples, so you can read to the bottom of p. 282.

QUESTION

For this assignment, please read “Recognizing and Disrupting Immappancy” in Week 14 Readings. The article is long and makes most of the key points by the end of p. 282, before going into extended examples, so you can read to the bottom of p. 282.

I want us to read this article with two questions in mind: a) How does this build on our understanding of maps/mapping? b) How can the article help us to wrap-up course discussions and make connections between previous units?

Task: Your answers to the following questions should be at least 400 words long and use specific examples from the article.

1. The article quotes Nedra Reynolds at the bottom of the first paragraph on p. 272 (“we must attend not only to the physical realities…borders just need to be stepped over”). Connect this quote to the ideas that maps are rhetorical, rather than accurate representations of objective reality.

2. How does our position in the world affect our understanding of maps? Use examples from the article.

3. Why is immappancy a problem? (Try to dive into this answer, rather than coming up with a one-sentence answer.)

4. Pick one quote from the article that you found interesting and useful. Connect it to another concept we’ve discussed in the course so far.

LINK TO READINGS: https://fiu.instructure.com/courses/77311/files/13150601/download?verifier=ppV1s6tsbJu70FRkcGRsjWh6C7dcqF85WhcXkDie&wrap=1

ANSWER

1. The article quotes Nedra Reynolds at the bottom of the first paragraph on p. 272 (“we must attend not only to the physical realities…borders just need to be stepped over”). Connect this quote to the ideas that maps are rhetorical, rather than accurate representations of objective reality.

Nedra Reynolds’s quote is a reminder that maps are not simply objective representations of reality. They are also rhetorical constructs that are shaped by the perspectives of their creators. This is why it is important to be aware of the rhetorical strategies that are used in maps, and to critically evaluate their claims.

For example, the map of the world that we are most familiar with is the Mercator projection. This projection is based on a mathematical formula that preserves angles, but it distorts the size of landmasses as they get closer to the poles. This means that Greenland, which is actually much smaller than Africa, appears to be much larger on a Mercator map.

This distortion is not an accident. It is a result of the fact that the Mercator projection was designed for navigation. It was important for navigators to be able to maintain a constant course, and the Mercator projection made it easier to do this. However, the distortion of landmasses on the Mercator projection can also have the effect of making Europe and North America appear to be more important than other parts of the world.

This is just one example of how maps can be used to promote a particular perspective. It is important to be aware of these rhetorical strategies so that we can critically evaluate the claims that are made in maps.

2. How does our position in the world affect our understanding of maps? Use examples from the article.

Our position in the world affects our understanding of maps in a number of ways. First, our cultural background can influence how we interpret maps. For example, people from different cultures may have different understandings of the meaning of borders. In some cultures, borders are seen as rigid and impermeable, while in other cultures, borders are seen as more fluid and permeable.

Second, our personal experiences can also influence how we understand maps. For example, if we have traveled to a particular place, we may have a more intimate understanding of that place than someone who has never been there. This can affect how we interpret a map of that place.

The article provides a number of examples of how our position in the world can affect our understanding of maps. For example, the article discusses how maps of the Middle East have been used to promote different political agendas. The article also discusses how maps of Africa have been used to justify colonialism and imperialism.

These examples show that maps can be used to promote a particular perspective, and that our position in the world can affect how we interpret maps. It is important to be aware of these factors so that we can critically evaluate the claims that are made in maps.

3. Why is immappancy a problem? (Try to dive into this answer, rather than coming up with a one-sentence answer.)

Immappancy is a problem because it can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. When people have different understandings of maps, it can be difficult to communicate effectively. This can lead to misunderstandings about the location of places, the boundaries between places, and the relationships between places.

Immappancy can also lead to conflict. For example, if two countries have different understandings of a border, it can lead to conflict over that border. This is why it is important to be aware of immappancy and to try to overcome it.

There are a number of ways to overcome immappancy. One way is to educate people about different maps and different perspectives. Another way is to encourage people to travel and to experience different cultures. By doing these things, we can help to create a more understanding and peaceful world.

4. Pick one quote from the article that you found interesting and useful. Connect it to another concept we’ve discussed in the course so far.

One quote from the article that I found interesting and useful is the following:

“Maps are not simply representations of space; they are also rhetorical constructs that shape how we understand and interact with the world.” (p. 272)

This quote reminds us that maps are not neutral objects. They are created by people with particular perspectives, and they reflect those perspectives. This means that we need to be critical of maps and to be aware of the ways in which they can be used to promote a particular perspective.

This quote connects to the concept of “rhetorical analysis” that we discussed in the course. Rhetorical analysis is the process of examining the ways in which texts are used to persuade or influence an audience. When we analyze a map, we can use rhetorical analysis to examine