Maps Go Wrong: Phantom Islands, Paper Towns, and the Hidden Politics of Cartography

In this discussion with Map Men Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones, the episode dissects how maps go wrong and why those mistakes matter. From phantom islands like Sandy Island that lingered on digital maps until 2012, to the 2018 Scottish law requiring Shetland to appear in true location, the conversation reveals how maps encode bias, power, and trust. The hosts also dive into paper towns used as copyright traps, the behaviors that make people trust maps, and how GPS reshapes our sense of space. Practical takeaways include mindful map use and the simple act of turning off location services to keep cognitive navigation sharp. Emotional connections to maps are explored through memory and place, emphasizing maps as personal identity as well as tools.

Introduction and premise

This episode features Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones of Map Men, discussing how maps go wrong and why those errors illuminate the social and political forces behind cartography. They connect a long history of map inaccuracy with today’s digital maps, showing that even in a world of satellites and apps, mistakes persist and tell revealing stories about mapmakers, publishers, and users.

"Maps reveal who the map was made for" — Jay Foreman.

Phantom islands and the weight of error

The pair explain phantom islands, such as Sandy Island, which appeared on old and even some modern maps despite being non-existent. They trace how such mistakes can survive across centuries and media, illustrating that maps are not neutral records of reality but, instead, artifacts shaped by observation, assumption, and replication.

"Maps are sneaky tools" — Mark Cooper-Jones.

Contested space and the politics of mapping

The conversation shifts to how borders and territories are depicted, including the Shetland Island location law enacted in 2018. Foreman and Cooper-Jones discuss how maps encode power, with examples like Ukraine-Russia mappings and the way color and line styles influence perception and policy. They emphasize that map production involves editorial decisions that can support a political agenda.

"not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential" — Mark Cooper-Jones.

Paper towns and copyright traps

The hosts recount paper towns such as Agloe, a fictional place created to protect map copyrights that later became a real, legally consequential location. This anecdote highlights how map features can be exploited to enforce or undermine rights and how audiences sometimes treat maps as authoritative truth rather than navigational guides.

GPS and cognitive navigation

The episode considers digital navigation’s effect on our brains and sense of place. They argue that GPS at the center of the user’s world can erode traditional navigation skills and spatial awareness, offering practical advice like turning off location services to maintain cognitive maps. They also touch on the emotional resonance of maps, tying memories to places and borders, and the role of maps in shaping identity.

"switch off location services" — Jay Foreman.

Emotional connections and practical takeaways

Listeners hear how maps function as memory anchors and personal artifacts, with the hippocampus playing a key role in spatial memory. The hosts encourage readers to engage with paper and digital maps actively, noticing details that reveal a map’s creators, biases, and purposes.