Here Be Dragons
Medieval mapmakers supposedly marked the phrase ‘Here be Dragons’ on their maps to indicate the uncharted territories of the world where unforeseen perils might await the explorer. Today, it’s considered a wry warning, a byword for all those roads you shouldn’t go down, the things you really don’t want to talk about because, well, that way danger lies. This week’s Lyric Feature is a story of maps and dragons in a world where there is little or no uncharted territory left; where Google maps and GPS plot our every step. And there are no monsters? The programme considers our relationship with maps in this moment, as technology radically alters how we now navigate the world. It takes us from Ireland to Italy, New York to Australia’s Northern Territory, from the past to an imagined future. With testimony from way finders, migrant artists and detectives our faith in maps is challenged as we explore how maps frame our perspective of other people and places and ask if maps can ever present a neutral undistorted view, especially now, as climate crisis, war and pandemic redraw everything.
Presenter: Mary Brophy
Producer: Neal Boyle
An IWR media production for RTÉ lyric fm made with funding from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound and Vision funding scheme.
RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 26th June, 6pm-7pm