Factual and Fictional Maps
This week’s blog pertains to maps based in fact and or fiction. A fair number of flat maps based in fact are in actuality ‘fictional’ as they cannot represent all five mapping components (distance, direction, shape, area, and proximity). For example, figure 1.3 is a map of the island of Maui one of the islands of the Hawaii chain. This map is a good factual map as it represents several of the standard elements a flat map should have in its over all design and content. The Maui map gives the reader a basic idea of the shape and area of the island. Color is also used to represent not only elevation but terrain as well. The map portrays the graphics of towns and cities as red or black dots and uses other symbols that are easily identified as they are commonly used in a number of tourist maps. For example, a park has the symbol of a tree and a fishing area has the symbol of a fish. Balance is portrayed with the use of a smaller island located in the bottom left hand corner. This smaller landmass gives the consumer an idea of the size Maui island. Figure 1.3 is not without fault as this map lacks some of the most basic elements such as a direction arrow and a proper legend.
Figure 1.4 represents a fictional map of the world that Flash Gordon crashed on during his initial adventures. This map despite its obvious lack of use in the real world has some very interesting components. The over all design appears cramped by the excessive use of color, yet the color acts as a legend of sorts and helps the consumer identify specific locations according to the geographic arrangement of that area. The map’s graphics are very plain and are not as useful as those in figure 1.3 as they do not depict elevation or terrain. The over all balance of the map is displayed by the use of water dragons and the general location of the landmass itself. As in figure 1.3, Flash Gordon’s map does not have a directional arrow or a distance scale but does it really need one? This map is fictional and is supposed to represent another planet, perhaps their planet does not have a north pole. Over all both maps are good and can be useful depending on what the consumer is looking for.
This week’s blog pertains to maps based in fact and or fiction. A fair number of flat maps based in fact are in actuality ‘fictional’ as they cannot represent all five mapping components (distance, direction, shape, area, and proximity). For example, figure 1.3 is a map of the island of Maui one of the islands of the Hawaii chain. This map is a good factual map as it represents several of the standard elements a flat map should have in its over all design and content. The Maui map gives the reader a basic idea of the shape and area of the island. Color is also used to represent not only elevation but terrain as well. The map portrays the graphics of towns and cities as red or black dots and uses other symbols that are easily identified as they are commonly used in a number of tourist maps. For example, a park has the symbol of a tree and a fishing area has the symbol of a fish. Balance is portrayed with the use of a smaller island located in the bottom left hand corner. This smaller landmass gives the consumer an idea of the size Maui island. Figure 1.3 is not without fault as this map lacks some of the most basic elements such as a direction arrow and a proper legend.
Figure 1.4 represents a fictional map of the world that Flash Gordon crashed on during his initial adventures. This map despite its obvious lack of use in the real world has some very interesting components. The over all design appears cramped by the excessive use of color, yet the color acts as a legend of sorts and helps the consumer identify specific locations according to the geographic arrangement of that area. The map’s graphics are very plain and are not as useful as those in figure 1.3 as they do not depict elevation or terrain. The over all balance of the map is displayed by the use of water dragons and the general location of the landmass itself. As in figure 1.3, Flash Gordon’s map does not have a directional arrow or a distance scale but does it really need one? This map is fictional and is supposed to represent another planet, perhaps their planet does not have a north pole. Over all both maps are good and can be useful depending on what the consumer is looking for.
Figure 1.3
Figure 1.4
1 comment:
People should read this.
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