Cartographies of Fuzziness: Mapping Places and Emotions

Abstract

Mapping emotions and places is an emerging field in cartography. This article explores expressed emotions related to power places, which are defined as places at which people can recharge and relax. At these places they can find their balance and inner power. Our research is based on empirical experiments in Germany and the USA in which the participants self-identified and mapped their power places. They described them and selected expressions for emotions that best describe how they feel at these places. The main goal of this paper is to compare the results gained on two different continents. Using Russell's Circumplex Model of Affect, we explore the cultural differences by mapping emotions in a two-dimensional circular place. We conclude the article with a discussion of the results and further research directions.

Keywords:

• power places
• emotions
• Circumplex Model of Affect
• mapping places and emotions

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Stephen Poplin for language improvements of this text. Thank you also to Shoaib Mahmud, my research assistant at Iowa State, for his help with organizing the data about power places in Ames.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alenka Poplin

Alenka Poplin is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Community and Regional Planning, Iowa State University, and a founder of GeoGames Lab. Her research interests include geovisualization, interaction with online maps, power places and place-based GIS, geogames, and serious games for civic engagement in planning.