Maps- Supplemental information

Suppose you are wondering why bring in a map? 

What is a map? Is it a visual record of "where" something is? Can it be a  way to chart other things like progress, emotions, milestones as well?

Here are a few artists who use maps as a basis for their work. Some links are dead. More may be added. 

http://www.artjunction.org/articles/mapartists.html

http://www.maproomblog.com/categories/art.php

http://www.vortexmaps.com/pattern.php

the most informative in terms of sociology
http://www.worldmapper.org/index.html

Sohai Nishino working on his large scale maps.