The Maps We Inhabit: Storytelling, Memory and Uncomfortable Oxford

Abstract

Crowned the world’s best university for the fourth year in a row, the University of Oxford is both an inspirational and aspirational place in the world. It has a consistent flow of visitors, and its streets tell the stories of complex international connections that reach far beyond its sandstone walls. This article highlights the maps which have been produced on Oxford - historical, contemporary, and imagined. When juxtaposed with the modern tourist industry, traditional depictions of Oxford have major gaps in historical memory. Yet through initiatives of intentional walks and overlooked narratives, Uncomfortable Oxford seeks to change the traditional maps of Oxford and its historical memory.