I’m rather fond of maps that offer new perspective on familiar terrain. There’s a whole series of upside-down world maps, for example, that put the southern pole on top. The idea that north is up is a relic of past cultural preference (of the map-makers and their patrons). Why not nudge the presumption?
Similar insights and brain-bending are available through this map, renaming each of the United States with the countries that most closely match their Gross Domestic Product.
Since our news system and national bias in the United States tend to insulate us from global insight, I’m glad for any opportunity to connect local experience with the larger world.
Strange and yet altogether interesting… My professor posed a question for us last week regarding countries and continents. He asked all of us to bring a world map. After a series of discussions, he asked us to find out why most of the countries on the north part of the map are richer and more economically stable than those on the bottom. I haven’t found that answer yet but I imagine he’d be thrilled if I introduced to him the concept of the upside-down map!