Abstract
Robert T. Tally Jr.'s theory of literary cartography, a development based on Frederic Jameson's notion of cognitive mapping, differentiates itself from the concept of literary maps which focuses on the distinction between text and map. Tally's literary cartography not only engages the fundamental connection between human existence, topophrenia, and literary cartography, but also reveals the inherent characteristics of literary cartography such as spatiality, metaphorization and ideological productivity. As an approach to understanding the modern world through the lens of text as map, literary cartography not only introduces new perspectives and methodology to literary studies and geocriticism, but also turns to the study of human existence. Conceived as a way to create authentic space and overcome spatial anxiety and representational crisis, literary cartography has switched from merely drawing literary maps to creating maps of people's lives. Tally's literary cartography projects a map of human existence through literary mapping, for the sake of humans' well-being.
Keywords
Robert T. Tally Jr.; literary cartography; spatiality; metaphorization; ideology
First Page
82
Last Page
92
Recommended Citation
Tuo, Jianqing, and Yuan Zhang. 2024. "Existential Predicament and Breakthrough of Literary Space Theory: A Study on Robert T. Tally Jr.'s Theory of Literary Cartography." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 43, (4): pp.82-92. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol43/iss4/9