The book describes the evolution and principles of number of signi. Classification and its consequences and the author of memory practices in the sciences, both published by the mit press. Bowker and susan leigh star discuss how humanity has used classification to perceive the world. Geoffrey bowker and susan leigh star, sorting things out. Information workers of all stripesprofessionals, academics, and those who are both and neitherwill concur with geoffrey c. It is, we argue, central to social life bowker and star, sorting things out, tool. Geoffrey bowker is known for his astute interpretations of the roles that information infrastructuresstandard ways of representing things play in communication. Here is a real audio interview with geof bowker about classification systems. Geoffrey bowker and susan leigh star undertake the challenging and encompassing topic of classification in classification and its consequences. Bowker and susan leigh star this book is a study of classification systems, and information infrastructures that i picked up after reading a description on the redrockeater mailing list.
The ethnography of infrastructure susan leigh star, 1999. In her work, star highlighted the messy practices of discovering science, asking hard questions about the marginalizing as well as the liberating powers of science and technology. He is the coauthor with susan leigh star of sorting things out. Bowker is professor at the school of information and computer science, university of california at irvine, where he directs a laboratory for values in the design of information systems and technology. All are examples of classification the scaffolding of information infrastructures. Bowker star sorting things out free download as pdf file. Introduction the texture of classification 6 the last chapter examined the detailed interactions among people, institutions, and categories about tuberculosis. Through the position papers collected here and with our diverse case studies, from ecological teams and human genes to digital streams, we add shape to the characterization of cssc. Bowker and susan leigh star explore the role of categories and standards in shaping the modern world. Adopting this approach, we look here at the possibilities and limitations of storytelling for grounding environmental data in its organizational context.
Bowker and star 1999 sorting things out classification and its consequ. An actor may for example place a document in a location where others can see it and use it. The actor may place it there for his or her own later use, but at the same time others may access it too, or the actor may place it. Each has a trajectory, and the trajectories may pull or torque each other over time if they move in different directions or at different rates. It was a fascinating look at how thoroughly classification. In a clear and lively style, they investigate a variety of classification systems, including the international classification of diseases, the nursing interventions classification pdf, race classification. Sorting things out is a sociological work that explains how individuals sort perceived characteristics into categories and the consequences of those choices. Classification and its consequences stefan helmreich massachusetts institute of technology. Bowker and susan leigh star axiomathes, 225229 2002. Bowker starsorting things out pragmatism information. Stars most celebrated concept was the notion of boundary objects. Background, definitions, examples an agile software project is a community of interest that draws its members from at least two different communities of practice. Bowker and star sorting things out classification and its consequ.
Bowker and star 1999 sorting things out classification. It was a fascinating look at how thoroughly classification systems infest our lives without our even being aware of it, how these systems come into existence, and how they affect us. Kiiminki, september 7 2003 helena karasti, karen s. This study represents an adaptive learning partnership among the university of central florida, colorado technical university, and the platform provider realizeit. Sorting things out geoffrey c bowker, susan leigh star. What do a seventeenthcentury mortality table whose causes of death include fainted in a bath, frighted, and itch. A theoretical investigation into instagram hashtag practices. Nov 01, 1999 infrastructure is both relational and ecologicalit means different things to different groups and it is part of the balance of action, tools, and the built environment, inseparable from them. Introduction the texture of classification 6 the last chapter examined the detailed interactions among people. Randall 1 computer supported cooperative work cscw volume 10, pages 147 153 2001 cite this article. Bowker and star emphasize how categories are invisible, in that they are not conscious but subconscious, yet can provide good and bad.
A revealing and surprising look at how classification systems can shape both worldviews and social interactions. Susan leigh star was doreen boyce chair for library and information science, university of pittsburgh. In sorting things out, geoffrey bowker and susan leigh star shed new light on a variety of classification systems and practices. Bowker is professor and director of the evoke lab at the university of california, irvine. Bowker and susan leigh star explore the role of categories. We interact with classifications on daily basis through everyday practices of sorting things out which allow us to make our way through the world. In the landmark work sorting things out, star and geoffrey bowker revealed the social and ethical histories that are deeply embedded in classification systems. Enter a modern home and you are surrounded by standards and categories spanning the color of paint on the walls and in the fabric of the furniture, the types. Bowker and susan leigh star, describe how the use of classification influences human behavior towards standardizing the physical world. In a clear and lively style, they investigate a variety of classification systems, including the international classification of diseases, the nursing interventions classification, race classification under apartheid in south africa, and the classification of viruses and of tuberculosis. Our lives are henged round with systems of classification, limned by standard formats, prescriptions, and objects.
Bowker and susan leigh star find, read and cite all the. Classification and its consequences, by geoffrey c. University of california san diego, ca his most recent book, with susan leigh star, is sorting things out. It also is frequently mundane to the point of boredom, involving things such as plugs, standards, and bureaucratic forms. In memory practices in the sciences, he aims to demonstrate that institutional and disciplinary memory is shaped by the ways that people gather and store information. Consequences classification and its sorting things out. A salient feature of cooperative work in modern work settings is that multiple actors so to speak interact through a large collection of artifacts of various kinds. And imagine how much more rich would be the analysis of sorting things out would have been if it had benefitted from the empirical research that already exists. Classification systems and their role in shaping philosophy and social interactions are explored in this unique analysis of human infrastructures. Ecological storytelling and collaborative scientific. Bowker and susan leigh star, the mit press, 1999 cloth, 2000 paper cambridge. Having hammered out a workshop agenda, we welcome the cssc participants. Sorting things out classification and its consequences. Classification implicit and explicit social organization of beings and knowledge into discrete categories governed by identifiable principles.
Sorting things out has a moral agenda, for each standard and category valorizes some point of view and silences another. The content of this electronic product is virtually identical to its print counterpart, bowker s complete video directory, except that the electronic version also includes fulltext film and video bowker s complete video directory on disccdrom. A community of practice is a group of people who do a certain type of work, talk to each other about their work, and derive some measure of. S inside technology includes bibliographical references p. Recent positions include professor of and senior scholar in cyberscholarship at the university of pittsburgh ischool and executive. In fall 1998, bowker ceased publication of its cdrom database varietys video. Some tricks of the trade in analyzing classification. How strange that the editors of the mit press didnt alert bowker and star about the book they had already published by lamberts and shanks. Capt stephen bowker 17631802 find a grave memorial. Sorting things out book hillsborough county public. In a clear and lively style, they investigate a variety of classification systems, including the international classification of diseases, the nursing interventions classification, race classification under. Sorting things out classification and its consequences book.
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