Please click here with left mouse button to go to home page

Cartography and geocultural risks: case studies - Kate Edwards

Interview

Additional comments by Kate Edwards to earlier interview (August 2009)

Introduction

Kate Edwards
Kate Edwards

Kate Edwards (Los Angeles, 1965) holds a B.A in Geography and a Certificate in Cartography (both from (California State University LB). Moreover, she obtained a M.A. and a Ph.C in Geography at the University of Washington and is currently working on a Ph.D.

Ms Edwards is Principal Consultant and Founder of Englobe Inc. In addition, she is Columnist for MultiLingual Computing and Chair and Founder of the IGDA Game Localization SIG

Ms Edwards discusses four examples where geocultural risks play a role.

Note: All photos have been provided by interviewee.

Ben&Jerry's: Black&Tan

picture Ben and Jerry's

In Ireland, an uproar was caused in spring 2006 by Ben&Jerry’s ice cream when it released a flavor in the U.S. called 'Black&Tan'.

In the U.S., this name refers to a drink that is prepared with Guinness and ale but in Ireland the name refers to an infamous auxiliary unit of the British army who were known for particular undisciplined and roughness in dealing with the local people, i.e., it’s quite the negative historical connection.

Ben&Jerry’s discontinued the flavor and issued an apology to the people of Ireland.

© Ben&Jerry’s Homemade Holdings Inc.

Cathedral of Manchester

Creators of the video game 'Resistance: Fall of Man' were chastised by the Church of England for using the Manchester cathedral in their game.

Not only was it recreated in excellent detail in the game without the Church’s permission, but the combat action of the game occurred inside the church itself.

picture of Manchester Cathedral picture of Manchester Cathedral
© Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.

Bob the Builder

These two pictures show the addition of a fifth digit on the hand of Bob the Builder (a children’s TV show) in order to appease ethnic slur issues in Japan.

Bob the Builder in Japan Bob the Builder in US
© HIT Entertainment

Map of Argentina

map of Argentina

An example of a very locale-specific geopolitical perspective, showing Argentina’s claim on the Falkland Islands and Antarctic territory as a matter of fact.

© Government of Argentina