For millenia, humans have been exploring the world around them and recording what they saw. This class will explore the history of map-making and the politics of recording and representing the world. While no previous experience with computer mapping software (such as ArcGIS) is required, we will look at different software tools and creative applications to map-making in the present day. This class is divided into three sections, beginning with the history and politics of map-making. While maps may include depictions of physical attributes, such as mountains, rivers, and oceans, they also often represent social aspects of the landscape such as national borders and place names, carrying political implications. Next we will engage with scholarship on Black, Indigenous, feminist, and queer geographies to think further about how various groups or individuals might experience or represent the world differently. Finally, we will examine applications of map-making and/or geographical theory to address topics such as urban segregation, movement, and food access.