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we-are-star-stuff: Who says North is up? Upside Down maps (also...

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:39:58 -0500

Who says North is up?

Upside Down maps (also known as South-Up or Reversed maps) offer a completely different perspective of the world we live in.

Technically speaking, even referring to the earth with words like “up” or “down” or comparing places with words “above” or “below” is flawed, considering that the earth is a spherical body (it’s actually slightly “fatter” at the equator) and flying through 3 dimensional space with no reference of up or down. However, the issue of “up” and “down” does become an issue when viewing the surface of the earth projected onto a flat piece of paper (a map). And the effect of the orientation of a map is more significant than you might realize.

As all maps require orientation for reference, the issue of how to layout the map orientation is as old as maps themselves. As map orientation is completely arbitrary, it is not surprising that they differed throughout time periods and regions.

The convention of North-up is usually attributed to the Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy (90-168 AD). Justifications for his north-up approach vary. In the middle ages, East was often placed at top. This is the origin of the term “The Orient” to refer to East Asia. During the age of exploration, European cartographers again followed the north-up convention…perhaps because the North Star was their fixed reference point for navigation, or because they wanted (subconsciously or otherwise) to ensure Europe’s claim at the top of the world.

In modern times, reversed maps are made as a learning device or to illustrate Northern Hemisphere bias. Different from simply turning a north-up map upside down, a reversed map has the text oriented to be read with south up.

The famous “Blue Marble” photograph of the Earth taken from on board Apollo 17 was originally oriented with the south pole at the top, with the island of Madagascar visible just left of center, and the continent of Africa at its right. However, the image was turned upside-down to fit the traditional view.

While the orientation of a map might seem harmless, it can have a significant effect on one’s perception of the world, and the relative importance of the different place in it.

In speech, we often refer to places being “above” or “below” others. Think of how you would say you’re about to travel to the state or country to your north or south (to go “down” to Kentucky from Indiana, or “up” to Canada from the US). Without even mentioning geography, ask any grade school student whether Mexico is “above” or “below” the United States. We’re all familiar with the “land down under”. As we often correlate importance to relative height (think how a citizens of a country will fly their flag higher than all other flags), the north-up convention reinforces the idea that northern bodies are more important than their southern neighbors. Suddenly, traveling “down” to the South might have an inference much deeper than geographic location.

After looking at the map more closely, you may realize that the South-Up orientation may change your perception of the relative status of different places. For example, South America suddenly looks to have more prominence, and Africa and the Middle East completely dwarf Europe. Likewise, tucking Northern Europe, Canada, and Russia away at the bottom of the map, subconsciously takes away their status.

To summarize, unconditionally accepting the north-up map convention without at least appreciating the effect stands at odds with viewing all people and places within the world equally. x x

So John and I.

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:33:41 -0500

So John and I.

"You keep a lot of secrets and I keep none. Wish I could go back and keep some. You’re fireproof...."

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:05:21 -0500

“You keep a lot of secrets and I keep none. Wish I could go back and keep some. You’re fireproof. Nothing breaks your heart. You’re fireproof. It’s just the way you are.”

- The National / Fireproof (via inspirart)

person: why are all women-

Fri, 10 May 2013 21:29:06 -0500

person: why are all women-
me: no.
person: women should just-
me: no.
person: but all women-
me: no.
person: real women-
me: no.

sociallyawkwardstoner: Straight people answer a question that...

Fri, 10 May 2013 21:18:43 -0500

sociallyawkwardstoner:

Straight people answer a question that gay people have been asked for years.
Even if you do nothing else today, watch this video.

razordoilies: X This is so awesome!

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:03:17 -0500

razordoilies:

X

This is so awesome!

Photo

Thu, 09 May 2013 02:12:12 -0500

cat doesn’t want to get out of nice warm bath [x]

Tue, 07 May 2013 02:46:48 -0500

cat doesn’t want to get out of nice warm bath [x]

Photo

Mon, 06 May 2013 01:24:08 -0500

searchingforknowledge: Fifteen rape victims have formed...

Sat, 04 May 2013 03:23:13 -0500

searchingforknowledge:

Fifteen rape victims have formed martial arts movement and are prepared to confront abusers if no one listens to their complaints…

A GROUP of women are fighting back against the sickening culture of rape which they say infects India. Fifteen determined females – all victims themselves – have trained in martial arts and are prepared to hand out rough justice if no one listens to their complaints. And the movement, called the Red Brigade, is growing rapidly following the gang rape and murder of medical student Jyoti Singh Pandey that horrified the world.

In a nation where a woman is reportedly raped every 20 minutes, the group’s leader Usha Vishwakarma said: “We are fighting back – and the boot is now on the other foot.” Member Sufia Hashmi, 17, said: “We’ve caught a lot of men recently. I joined because men always used to pass comments on me and touch my body but now we beat them and they run.”

Like the other members in the northern city of Lucknow, 25- year-old Usha has first-hand experience of the daily dangers women face in the huge nation – a teacher tried to rape her when she was 18. She said: “He grabbed me and tried to open my trousers. I kicked him in the crotch and ran.” Usha complained to staff but they told her to forget it and allowed her attacker to carry on teaching. She said: “Many parents tell girls to quit school so there will be no sexual violence. But we said no – this has to stop. We decided to form a group to fight for ourselves, not just complain.”MORE

"Some people turn sad awfully young. No special reason, it seems, but they seem almost to be born..."

Sat, 04 May 2013 01:14:22 -0500

“Some people turn sad awfully young. No special reason, it seems, but they seem almost to be born that way. They bruise easier, tire faster, cry quicker, remember longer and, as I say, get sadder younger than anyone else in the world. I know, for I’m one of them.”

- Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine (via lonur)

Photo

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:59:27 -0500

Ever want to celebrate by updating your C.V.? I do! :)

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:57:24 -0500

Ever want to celebrate by updating your C.V.? I do! :)

Photo

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:06:58 -0500

Video

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:39:08 -0500

"An even bigger issue is that if people think social justice is about niceness, it means they have..."

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:50:38 -0500

“An even bigger issue is that if people think social justice is about niceness, it means they have fundamentally misunderstood privilege. Privilege does not mean you live in a world where people are nice to you and never insult you. It means you live in a world in which you, and people like you, are given systematic advantages over other people. Being marginalised does not mean people are always nasty to you, it means you live in a world in which many aspects of the cultural, social and economic systems are stacked against people like you. Some very privileged people have had awful experiences in life, but it does not erase their privilege.”

- The Revolution Will Not Be Polite (via sonicy0uth)

recipes for revolution are quiteeeeee tricky.

(via crystal-cat-loves-ac)

My boyfriend introduced me to the papa rellena. Forever I am...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:41:56 -0500

My boyfriend introduced me to the papa rellena. Forever I am indebted.

"There were no sex classes. No friendship classes. No classes on how to navigate a bureaucracy, build..."

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:21:32 -0500

“There were no sex classes. No friendship classes. No classes on how to navigate a bureaucracy, build an organization, raise money, create a database, buy a house, love a child, spot a scam, talk someone out of suicide, or figure out what was important to me. Not knowing how to do these things is what messes people up in life, not whether they know algebra or can analyze literature.”

- William Upski Wimsatt (via radicalginger)

queeniman: Meet a Muslim Person

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:04:57 -0500

queeniman:

Meet a Muslim Person

read-write-live: Reminds me of my youth.

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:08:19 -0500

read-write-live:

Reminds me of my youth.