Week 3 - Enlightenment, Readings: Cosgrove and Harvey Flashcards
What is Ptolemaic mapping?
Associated with geometry, and other mathematical perspectives. Most known for his ‘World Map’, in his book ‘Geography’ (earth-writing). Emphasised precision, projection and representation of geographical features.
How have geographers engaged with landscape?
Overall, landscape has been engaged with more critically:
- Cosgrove: landscapes as cultural texts and icons
- Rose: Feminist perspectives, a gendered “gaze”, the visual containing multiple masculine qualities.
- Wylie: Our understanding of landscape is shaped by lived experience. (Phenomenology)
How has landscape been connected to Romantic thought?
The romanticism of nature has been connected to ideas of national culture and relationships with places. e.g., Caspar Freidrich - Wanderer above the Sea of Fog
What is Enlightenment mapping?
The emergence of mapping as a reconnaissance project, translating new spaces into familiar European spatial representations and geographical imaginaries.
When was the Enlightenment period?
1700-1850s
What is terra icognita?
Originally a greek term from Ptolemy’s work, and reintroduced during enlightenment era mapping, terra icognita refers to unknown land - areas not mapped outside of knowledge.
What are some features of Enlightenment mapping in Europe?
- A clear distinction between terra icognita and ecumene (the occupied world)
- A western-centric image of the world
- A ‘writing’ out of other cultures from understandings of the “world”
- Narrated from a POV
- Validated projects of civilisation, developing a scientific and rational world.
What questions have been posed critical of the enlightenment period mapping?
In this window, scientific and neutral maps were increasingly viewed with political and cultural ideologies. Stresses a progressive approach placing scientific enterprises in its cultural and political contexts
How does Harvey (1990) characterise the idea of perspective geometry and its social consequences?
Perspective geometry, as a mathematical and artistic technique during the enlightenment, became a powerful tool for representing 3D space on a 2D plan. It enabled for the homogenisation of space, time as progressive, capitalism and modernity.
What does Harvey (1990) argue, and what questions does he pose?
Harvey argues that the Enlightenment’s rational mapping of the world was a means to control and organise space and time for economic and political ends. From a post-modern perspective, Harvey critiques traditional cartographic methods.
What example thoughts can be drawn connecting perspective representations and maps with control and appropriation?
- digital mapping and surveillance
- urban planning and development.
- colonialism and postcolonial
- management of resources
- environmental responsibility
What does Cosgrove (2001) argue about
In his critical cartographic perspective, Cosgrove speaking about the globes throughout history touches on the visionary and enlightened globe. Firstly, looking at the visionary globe, Cosgrove touches on the globe as a visionary symbol of holistic knowledge before space age. Secondly, Cosgrove looks at the Enlightened globe, scrutinising the rational view and its effects on social perceptions and unity.
