The map as a factor of community’s imagining

Abstract

The article deals with the map, which not only reflects certain (first of all social) reality, but also influences the formation of a national community. The major thesis developed in the article is as follows: the map, by reflecting social reality, is a source of creating community’s reality. Besides, the author seeks to substantiate also the minor theses which follow from the major one: a state map is not only a geographical object, but also a social phenomenon that emerges by formatting the nation as a community of individuals; the map, by influencing our public life, contributes to the formation of political attitudes; the map serves as a means of communication among different generations of a national community and guarantees the continuity of tradition; the novelty of social life follows from a new interpretation of the map to be changed; the map is a knot of tradition and novelty, as well of visual culture and writing culture; the map as an imperative of public life should be analysed from the ethical perspective; every map of a certain land expresses the aspirations of a community under formation; a state map, by determining the phenomena of national environment, tends to assume a harmonious form (in both communicative and aesthetic sense); the borders of the map are to be connected with the borders of the existential region. According to the author, the map is a medium which transfers a tradition that needs renewing. As a medium, the map not only transfers a certain message (about national aspirations), but also changes all media and the social structure of a national community. According to the author, the map is the educational means for an individual as the agent of the community, as well the source of his existential formation. The author uses the tools of existential phenomenology, cultural regionalistics, media studies, communicative philosophy, border discourse and identity discourse.