Strange Creatures - Imaging and Imagining Other Peoples – Interview with Dr. Martin Hofmann (Heidelberg University)

Dr. Martin Hofmann (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- What do old maps tell us about a society’s culture? - Why do we find these “strange imaginary creatures” in the old East Asian mapmaking tradition? - How should we read the images on old maps in order to understand them better?

In the first episode of the year 2026, Dr. Martin Hofmann from the Department of Intellectual History at the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg University, introduces the fields of transcultural studies and intellectual history and explains how these disciplines help us understand cultural perceptions. Dr. Hofmann elaborates on how maps function as a medium for conveying knowledge and how they mirror the epistemic ideals of different cultures. He also touches on the special features of these maps, the “imaginary creatures,” and the role they play in how cultures imagine and interpret the “other.” The conversation further explores how mapmaking practices have evolved over time, why images are so important for cultural history, and what methodological challenges arise when we try to interpret historical images today. Join us as we wander through old maps and meet their imaginary creatures!

Timeline (00:00) Intro (00:24) Introducing Dr. Martin Hofmann (02:12) Introduction to Transcultural Studies (03:48) Understanding Intellectual History (05:09) Strange Creatures: Imaging and Imagining Other Peoples (07:13) The Role of Maps in Intellectual History (10:04) Ethnographic Description of a Culture in Maps (11:14) Cultural Differences between Maps Making Traditions (13:06) Imaginary Creatures in East Asian Cartography (15:35) Historical Perception of Imaginary Creatures (17:27) Patterns among Different Imaginary Creatures (19:07) The Evolution of Mapmaking Practices (21:05) The Disappearance of Imaginary Creatures (24:00) Interaction between Cultures in Map Making (25:07) How “Imaginary” are These Creatures? (27:15) Iconic Turn and The Importance of Images in Cultural History (29:58) Methodological Considerations in Image Interpretation (33:05) Diversity of Interpretations within Cultures (37:29) Conclusion and Future Plans (41:00) Outro

Keywords Transcultural Studies, Intellectual History, Cartography, Imaginary Creatures, East Asia, Maps, Cultural Perception, Research, Methodology, Visual Studies, Images, Icons, Iconic Turn, Cultural Interaction, Interdisciplinary Research, Epistemic Ideals, Image Studies, Cultural Narratives, Cultural Perceptions, Worldview, Historical Images, Heidelberg University, Us and Them, Humanities, Social Sciences, HGGS, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast