The New Nature of Maps: Essays in the History of Cartography

by J.B. Harley, J.H. Andrews (Introduction), Paul Laxton (Editor)

In this collection of essays J. B. Harley (1932-1991) draws on ideas in art history, literature, philosophy, and the study of visual culture to subvert the traditional, "positivist" model of cartography, replacing it with one that is grounded in an iconological and semiotic theory of the nature of maps. He defines a map as a "social construction" and argues that maps are not simple representations of reality but exert profound influences upon the way space is conceptualized and organized. A central theme is the way in which power―whether military, political, religious, or economic―becomes inscribed on the land through cartography. In this new reading of maps and map making, Harley undertakes a surprising journey into the nature of the social and political unconscious.

Genres: Cartography, History, Nonfiction, Geography, Maps, Academic, Art History

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2001

Reviews

[Arielle Tate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for one of the best history classes I have ever taken in my life and it is honestly one of the most brilliant and revealing books about one of the most formative, innovative, and influential periods of world history. I’ve been using the term “silencing” ever since.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful but not earth-shattering. The book begins with a long disquisition, by one of Harley's contemporaries, that dissects his writings and exposes his inconsistencies, etc. Harley offers useful tips to the map scholar.

[Nadxieli Mannello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good foundational text, but by the time I got around to reading it the ideas seemed pretty conventional (in terms of any critical inquiry).