Maps used to be boring and stereotypes used to be mean… until graphic designer and visual artist Yanko Tsvetkov, a.k.a. Alphadesigner, brought them together in one of the most clever, honest and inappropriate calendars to date.

Before you take this seriously and crucify him, you might want to let him explain his artistic philosophy. I can hear it resonate, for the most part, with my own:

As an artist, I am limited only by the span of my imagination and the level of my mastery. I’m not politically correct. Art is an expression of feelings and spirit, not a moral quest for dignity, purification or salvation. If you seek the latter, go to a priest or simply continue reading.

So, as an “expression of feelings and spirit,” Art can (should) also make you laugh.

We used the ” Atlas of prejudices ” and especially that part which is “Tearing Europe apart ” to make students realise what are the prejudices for the European peoples, especially of those countries that were participants in the project and were they true due to our students. We gave them certain questions to direct them how to work with the maps and what conclusions they can draw. This helped them understand what prejudices are and how untrue and funny they can be. It was very interesting for the students to see how the other countries labelled them due to some bad prejudices. And what is more, people  shouldn’t be judged by their appearance or by what you have heard without knowing thoroughly a person or a country.