'Nonstop Metropolis' is an atlas of New York City with a goal that differs from the vast majority of cartography. Rather than serving the pragmatic purpose of offering directions or a lay of the land, 'Nonstop Metropolis' gives an alternative geographical view of the city and surrounding areas, focusing on culture, history and infrastructure.
'Water and Power' is a map of New York's infrastructure. It maps the areas from where New York City receives its water supply and also explains the far reach of the city's power sources -- for instance, it notes that electricity comes from as far as northern Canada. Culturally, the 'Burnin' Down the Bronx' map includes a breakdown of the Bronx in the 1970s, drawing a correlation between neighborhood fires and the rise of hip-hop.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Alternative City Atlases
- Maps that serve a cultural, historical, and infrastructure purpose rather than just offering directions.
- Geographically-focused Culture and History Education
- Maps that educate people about the culture and history of a city or region and its infrastructure, promoting a better understanding of their environment.
- Multimedia Map Integration
- Maps that integrate various media types, from audio to videos, to offer a more immersive experience.
Where This Applies
- Publishing
- Publishers can look at creating alternative city atlas books for different cities or regions, catering to a more culture and history oriented audience.
- Tourism and Travel
- Tourism and travel companies that can use alternative city atlases or multimedia maps to promote cultural and historical visits and tours.
- Education
- Educational institutions that can use alternative city atlases or multimedia maps as teaching aids to promote cultural and historical education, especially in geography and history subjects.
