Deep Mapping and Spatial Anthropology

Abstract

This paper provides an introduction to the Humanities Special Issue on "Deep Mapping". It sets out the rationale for the collection and explores the broad-ranging nature of perspectives and practices that fall within the "undisciplined" interdisciplinary domain of spatial humanities. Sketching a cross-current of ideas that have begun to coalesce around the concept of "deep mapping", the paper argues that rather than attempting to outline a set of defining characteristics and "deep" cartographic features, a more instructive approach is to pay closer attention to the multivalent ways deep mapping is performatively put to work. Casting a critical and reflexive gaze over the developing discourse of deep mapping, it is argued that what deep mapping "is" cannot be reduced to the otherwise a-spatial and a-temporal fixity of the "deep map". In this respect, as an undisciplined survey of this increasing expansive field of study and practice, the paper explores the ways in which deep mapping can engage broader discussion around questions of spatial anthropology.

Atlas of Dreams: Unveiling the Invisible in the San Francisco Bay Area

“…The creation of the artistic maps was a form of “deep mapping” (Roberts ). As such, it entailed a series of performative activities: collecting dream narratives and dream beliefs, drifting at the places where the narratives were recorded, and the creation of maps aimed at evoking experiences instead of representing them.…”

Spatial patterns, availability and cultural preferences for edible plants in southern Africa

“…With the availability of distribution maps for all language groups (Van Wyk et al, ) and biomes (SANBI, ), as well as distribution data for the taxa of southern Africa (Botanical Database of Southern Africa—BODATSA, SANBI, ), it has become possible to analyse patterns of plant use across cultures using regression analysis (Moerman, , ), as well as a multi‐layered map and GIS software. This multi‐layered approach is known as deep mapping (Roberts, ) which is part of an emerging field known as Digital humanities or geolinguistics (if linguistic data are involved) (Lock & Pouncett, ). Languages are considered to be fluid in their distribution which makes it difficult to represent them spatially (Earley‐Spadoni, ; Lock & Pouncett, ).…”

“…Moerman (1979Moerman ( , 1991 argued that if plant selection is random (not intentional), then there will be a linear relationship between the total number of species in a given plant family and the number of species (Moerman, 1979(Moerman, , 1991, as well as a multi-layered map and GIS software. This multi-layered approach is known as deep mapping (Roberts, 2016) which is part of an emerging field known as Digital humanities or geolinguistics (if linguistic data are involved) (Lock & Pouncett, 2017). Languages are considered to be fluid in their distribution which makes it difficult to represent them spatially (Earley-Spadoni, 2017;Lock & Pouncett, 2017).…”

Social Construal Maps to Study Territories within Home Space

“…Urban anthropologists seem to have understood that they might minimize the limits of geographical, cognitive and factorial maps, and maximize the opportunity to understand the symbolic dimensions of space and to nuance its scales by taking an interdisciplinary approach. Therefore, they introduced the concept of `deep mapping`, defined as thick descriptions based on ethnographic, lyrical, and literary analysis [25]. Deep maps include spatial narratives, multi-layered and multi-scalar spatial structures, multimedia navigability, spatial intertextual hermeneutics, spatial experience and embodiment, performativity, spatiotemporal contingency, processusal and open spatial sensitivity, reflexivity on the unmappable character of space [25].…”

“…Therefore, they introduced the concept of `deep mapping`, defined as thick descriptions based on ethnographic, lyrical, and literary analysis [25]. Deep maps include spatial narratives, multi-layered and multi-scalar spatial structures, multimedia navigability, spatial intertextual hermeneutics, spatial experience and embodiment, performativity, spatiotemporal contingency, processusal and open spatial sensitivity, reflexivity on the unmappable character of space [25]. According to the same source, in deep mapping, `structures, forms, affects, energies, narratives, connections, memories, imaginaries, mythologies, voices, identities, temporalities, images, and textualities starts to provisionally take shape` [25 p14].…”