Maps as Local Media and Mapmaking as Social Activity : Imagination of Alternative Maps in Local Society

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  • 地域メディアとしての地図と社会的実践としての地図づくり : 地域社会における<マップ>の想像力
  • チイキ メディア ト シテ ノ チズ ト シャカイテキ ジッセン ト シテ ノ チズズクリ : チイキ シャカイ ニ オケル<マップ>ノ ソウゾウリョク

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Abstract

Maps play a role in imaging the modern world and nations, and have a role as fragmentary and personal "way-finding tools." In addition, maps are taking on a role as local media which are important for substantializing the liquid image of a "local area." These can be conceptualized as alternative maps, which design various images of a local area, that is not necessarily limited by administrative boundaries, by visualizing the "distribution" of the objects selected according to a certain theme (e.g. local resources), and institutional standard maps, which uniformly divide the local areas based on administrative "boundaries." In contemporary society, the formulation of alternative maps, which can reduce complexity in the way described above and express the multi-layered "(local) society" that cannot be fully illustrated in single-layer standard maps, is required so that people's perception of society is restructured accordingly. The activity of mapmaking, which used to be a professional service, has been democratized by the highly flexible style of expression of alternative maps, and such maps are often collaboratively produced through grassroots civic activities. Consequently, there is the possibility that alternative maps may serve not only as a form of alternative special expression, but also as media which mediates communication and networks in the local area by being linked to people's social activities and brings the new social nature of maps to light.

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