Information, Photographs, the Cultural Inventory: What John Collier, Jr. Offers Contemporary Researchers

摘要

This poster provides historical, theoretical, and chieflymethodological insights into studying information basedaround the work of visual anthropologist John Collier, Jr.Collier pioneered “cultural” and “photographic inventories”as means to systematically capture social phenomena. First,Collier’s inventorying method is introduced. Then, theanalysis of a small sample of Collier’s work is described inlight of contemporary Information Studies’ salient concerns.From this miniature case study, information scholars maylearn to: utilize visual data gathering techniques effectivelyin their research designs; analyze visual data appropriatelyin their work; and incorporate visual data in their reportswith maximal impact. This poster synthesizes hithertodiffuse advice about exploiting the toolkit of innovative,data-enlivening methods proffered by visual approachesand makes the often-fraught arena of visual researchaccessible to the information field.