DKMonroe

I like maps. Not only because they give us direction, but also because they can be art. Yet, maps lie. They seem to be complete, but by focusing, obstinately on a few details they are transformed. A street map ignores topographical information, which would simply get in the way. Subway maps use internal relationships to show distance and direction, and ignore actual distance and direction, which would make them unwieldy and overwhelming. That’s what I love about maps, persistent simplicity. It makes my mind whirl.

A Map of Times and Distances of Major Cities in Relationship to Washington D. C.

Even if a map becomes useless or overwhelming, I like the attempt. I don’t think we will ever find this map from the Victorian era very useful; yet, the symmetry and design is beautiful. If you want to see more like this, keep an eye on BibliOdyssey.

Maps are fiction. I wish I was the first to learn this, but sadly, a fiction writer beat me to it (Maps of the Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer). He helps the future writers understand that persistent focus on, and revelation of a few details is what makes fiction work. This map as fiction business reminds me of Italo Calvino – who understood maps,  and fiction, and maps as fiction better than I. His work, Invisible Cities, maps the emotional landscape Maco Polo traveled to become Kublai Khan’s guest.

Finally, as maps whirl around in my mind, I’m reminded of the kindness of David Rumsey, who has taken his collection of rare maps and delivered them to us online. He also allowed us to experience maps in a more visceral way by allowing his collection to be transformed into 3D space in Second Life. I highly recommend you visit.

A 3D Topographical Map of Yosemite in Second Life

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