And grace was in the tension...

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

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:58:40 -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

"If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t..."

Sat, 11 May 2013 23:48:57 -0500

“If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t survive.”

- Brené Brown (via creatingaquietmind)

Photo

Sat, 11 May 2013 15:16:18 -0500

ohlookemma: praise.

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:07:00 -0500

ohlookemma:

praise.

mickwe: World population by longitude and latitude (via World...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:05:36 -0500

mickwe:

World population by longitude and latitude (via World Population By Latitude, Longitude | Geekosystem)

"Our lives are but a breath, but our breaths are drawn from your divine Spirit. You have created us..."

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:19:48 -0500

“Our lives are but a breath,
but our breaths are drawn from your divine Spirit.
You have created us as walking paradoxes.
Specks of dust and divine image bearers.
We are constantly restless
until we rest in you.”

- Common Prayer- Commissioning Prayer

Photo

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:35:28 -0500

I Beg To Differ

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:17:15 -0500

I Beg To Differ:

Come in close with me for a moment? I’m in a gentle, whispering sort of mood and I have some thoughts to give and questions I would ask all you feeler

ohlookemma: mmanalysis: milesjai: soundlyawake: I think...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:17:13 -0500

ohlookemma:

mmanalysis:

milesjai:

soundlyawake:

I think Kmart just saved their company with one commercial.

THIS IS GOLD.

I have no words.

ship. drawers. haha. hahaha.

lightfilledcorners: Dove hired a forensic artist to draw how...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:15:11 -0500

lightfilledcorners:

Dove hired a forensic artist to draw how women see themselves versus how others see them - the results are moving.

I actually have tears in my eyes and a knot in my throat.

Why can’t I believe that?

"When two people meet, each one is changed by the other so you’ve got two new people."

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 09:43:51 -0500

“When two people meet, each one is changed by the other so you’ve got two new people.”

- John Steinbeck (via kari-shma)

Photo

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 09:54:04 -0500

tastefullyoffensive: [via]

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:29:32 -0500

tastefullyoffensive:

[via]

Photo

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:44:17 -0500

Photo

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:42:41 -0500

Photo

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:30:42 -0500

nicole-smith1: katelynwilbanks: While everyone else went...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:02:53 -0500

nicole-smith1:

katelynwilbanks:

While everyone else went south, we took a train north and spent spring break exploring the streets of Chicago. Together we wandered through the tension of brokenness and beauty that fills this windy city and returned with a renewed vision for our own communities and inspiration for the coming years.

This place and these people are what community is supposed to look like. I am so blessed to be a part of it.

10 reasons i am an advocate for women’s equality.

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 13:44:52 -0600

10 reasons i am an advocate for women’s equality.:

my hope & prayer is that we keep learning what it means to not live under or over others; that keeps us stuck & separated & oppressed. real equality is learning to live alongside each other as human beings made in the image of God, with equal worth & freedom & voice & responsibility & possibility.

laurennicolelove: rest is a love note to the world that says ‘i...

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:43:31 -0600

laurennicolelove:

rest is a love note to the world that says ‘i trust you.”

"And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good."

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:49:42 -0600

“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.”

- John Steinbeck, East of Eden (via katelynwilbanks)