Re-conceptualizing narrative cartography

doi:10.11947/j.AGCS.2025.20250107

Abstract

Abstract:

Maps, as the “universal language” of all humanity and the “narrative text” of global discourse activities, constitute an important pathway for subject self-expression, social interaction, and international communication. In recent years, narrative cartography has become a hot and cutting-edge issue in international cartography research. It is imperative to establish a conceptual framework for narrative cartography, laying a clear and solid theoretical foundation. This framework aims to contextualize “telling story well via maps” within diverse problem settings, ultimately advancing the study of narrative cartography from theory to practice. Through theoretical deduction, this study first explores the textual logic of map forms at the epistemological level, the syntactic logic of map language at the methodological level, and the practical logic of map discourse at the praxis level. A conceptual framework for narrative cartography is then constructed featured by a hierarchical and integrative structure. Finally, the research paradigm of narrative cartography is proposed, and the epistemology, ontology, and methodology of narrative cartography are established in order to promote the transformation of narrative cartography from the academic forefront to the mainstream of cartography. The conceptual framework and research paradigm provide a theoretical foundation and directional guidance for the establishment and development of narrative cartography. This paper offers theoretical insights and actionable strategies to support the innovative development of cartography.

Key words: narrative maps, map design, narrative cartography, theoretical issues, cartography theory

CLC Number:

P285

Shiliang SU, Juan XIANG, Qingyun DU, Lin LI, Qianqian LI, Lingqi WANG, Jiangyue ZHANG, Mengjun KANG, Min WENG. Re-conceptualizing narrative cartography[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2025, 54(8): 1371-1388.

Figures/Tables 13

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