CR282 Task #3 Blogging

Topic 2: Mapping Paradox

Maps are a core element displayed throughout literature. Maps have been used in literature in stories such as ‘Lord of the Rings’ or ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ in much the same way they would be used in ‘reality’. Maps are a collection of symbols gathered and arranged on a page to represent things or places. Maps are ‘meant’ to reflect reality, bringing questions to rise as to why they are utilised in fictional stories so often.

In the Chronicles of Narnia C.S. Lewis represents the land of ‘Narnia’ on a map at the start of his books.

 

(Wiki Narnia, 2013).

When reading a fictional story with a map the words and description in the novel add meaning to the symbols in the map, and the map adds realism and meaning to the story. Reading the novel with only one of these (map, or just the description) the reader does not get the same feel for the land or story. The map paradox is the most integral reason maps appear throughout fictional literature. “A map is a paradox in that physically it is mere marks on sheets of paper, yet visually it brings to mind a multidimensional world, containing objects and even emotions not perceived directly on the piece of paper” (Muehrcke & Muehrcke, 1974, p. 323). The map paradox contains the simple explanation of how and why maps in fictional literature work so well, and why they appear so often.

My personal reflection on the use of maps in literature is to engage the reader to a greater extent, connecting the author’s descriptions and story to a map and creating more meaning for the reader. Most people read to escape into another ‘world’, maps greatly help with this form of ‘escapism’ creating a map makes the land/setting more believable while adding meaning to the author’s text.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures show their historical and cultural understandings of places through similar means of ‘maps’ and symbols through their dreamtime stories and cultural paintings. “Q.1.5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ ways of life are uniquely expressed through ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing” (ACARA, 2013).

A Christian perspective on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and their culture and history is shown in Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image, of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Bible Gateway, 2011, Genesis 1:27). No matter where people come from or ones culture or history everyone is made in God’s image and is special and unique in their own right.

While maps add meaning and give opportunity for diversity of culture they also allow people from different cultures or backgrounds to find and identify with their own culture or history within the text and ‘reading’ (interpretation of symbols)  of the map, adding to the map paradox and showing the core elements and reasoning for maps within literature.



References

ACARA. (2013). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Retrieved 25^th October 2013 from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities/Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-histories-and-cultures.

Bible Gateway. (2011). New International Version. Retrieved 25^th October 2013.

Wiki Narnia. (2013). Map of Narnia C.S. Lewis. Retrieved 25^th October 2013 from http://narnia.wikia.com/wiki/File:Map-of-Narnia-cs-lewis-1434807-700-528.gif.