After reading Ken G. Brealey’s “Mapping Them Out” and the Millbank Atlas, the Millbank Atlas is definitely more relatable to our everyday lives because we constantly interact with urban spaces without questioning how maps shape our understanding of them. Your observation about comparing past and present maps is especially insightful because it allows us to see how cities evolve, what gets erased, and what hidden messages maps carry.
We often assume that a map simply shows what exists, but in reality, maps highlight some aspects and ignore others. An important point about how political figures and city planners use maps to organise cities. Maps are not just about navigation—they also reflect who has control, who gets access, and what is prioritized.
Mapping is not neutral. It raises important questions:
• Who gets to decide what land is mapped and how it’s labeled?
• Could mapping be used as a tool for justice, or would it just reinforce power struggles?
