Long Underwear on a Line? The Peters Projection and Thirty Years of Carto-controversy

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the unveiling by Dr Arno Peters of his peculiar looking projection of the world.Since its launch, the map has been the target of considerable criticism from professional cartographers - one went asfar as opining that the landmasses on the map 'are so...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geography 2003-07, Vol.88 (3), p.236-244
Main Author: SRISKANDARAJAH, DHANANJAYAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomical maps
Cartography
Geography
Geography education
Mercator projection
Positivism
Social theories
World maps
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the unveiling by Dr Arno Peters of his peculiar looking projection of the world.Since its launch, the map has been the target of considerable criticism from professional cartographers - one went asfar as opining that the landmasses on the map 'are somewhat reminiscent of wet, ragged, long, winter underwear hung out to dry on the Arctic Circle' (Robinson, 1985, p. 104). In contrast, the projection has found prominent advocates outside the discipline, especially from within the international development and education communities. While cartographers complained that Peters' map was neither new nor the product of good cartography, its advocates saw the map as novel means of politicising and correcting traditional, Euro-centric spatial depictions. A review of the controversy surrounding the Peters projection reveals a lively and entertaining debate that classically pitstechnical values (descriptive 'accuracy') against ideological concerns (normative political projects). Peters died in late 2002 but his controversial contribution to cartography is likely to stir trouble for many years to come.
ISSN:0016-7487
2043-6564
DOI:10.1080/20436564.2003.12219884