Maps are often treated as neutral tools. We rely on them to explain the world clearly and accurately.
This short documentary explores how mapmaking involves unavoidable tradeoffs, and how those choices can shape perception over time.
Transcript
Maps feel objective.
Precise.
Trustworthy.
But every map lies.
Not because it’s wrong.
Because it has to be.
You’re trying to flatten a spinning sphere onto a flat surface.
Something always gets distorted.
Size.
Shape.
Distance.
On most world maps, Greenland looks as big as Africa.
In reality, Africa is fourteen times larger.
That distortion wasn’t accidental.
Early maps were designed for navigation and power, not fairness.
They made Europe look bigger.
More important.
More central.
And once we learn a map, it shapes how we see the world.
What feels close.
What feels distant.
What feels dominant.
So the next time you look at a map, remember:
it’s not showing you the world as it is.
It’s showing you the world as someone needed it to be seen.
Looking for a Documentary or Docuseries Narrator?
If you’re producing a documentary or docuseries and need a narrator who can deliver clear, story driven explanation with authority and warmth, listen to my documentary narration demo here.
