1. The performative characterof
digital methods
Dr. Astrid Mager
Institute of Technology A-1030 Vienna, Strohgasse 45/5
Assessment astrid.mager@oeaw.ac.at
Austrian Academy of www.astridmager.net
Sciences www.oeaw.ac.at/ita
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2. Internet as (democratic) NETWORK
visualcomplexity.com
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3. Internet as (democratic) NETWORK
blog.socialflow.com
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4. Google asGATEKEEPER
gigaom.com
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5. Google as GATEKEEPER
digitaltrends.com
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6. METAPHORS
„metaphors structure our most basic understandings of
our experience, they are “metaphors we live by“”
(Lakoff& Johnson 2003)
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7. Performativityof METHODS
methodsmake „certain (political) arrangementsmore probable,
stronger, more real, whilsterodingothersandmakingthemless
real“
(Law 2004: 149)
„thetermontologicalpoliticssuggests a link betweenthe real,
theconditionsofpossibilitywe live with, andthepolitical“
(Mol 1999: 86)
Are thereoptions&howto handle choice incorporated (Mol)?
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8. CASE STUDY: Biofuelcontroversy
 What web realities do link networks and
searchengineanalysesenact?
Whatisemphasized, whatishidden?
 Whatisthe „ontologicalpolitics“ ofthese digital methods?
 Whatchoicescould/ shouldbemade? Bywhom? Howto
handle „choice incorporated“?
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9. Web as link NETWORK
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10. Web as link NETWORK
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11. Google as GATEKEEPER
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12. Google as GATEKEEPER
policy
„biofuel“
industry
academia
media
policy
„biofueldebate“ industry
media
media
social media
“super green car bonus”
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13. Google as GATEKEEPER
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14. „Ontologicalpolitics“
Link networks
depictthe web as a de-centralnetwork of websites
perpetuatedemocraticutopia of the web
maycreatedesirefor alternative technologies and tools
Google analyses
depictthe web as a hierarchicalindex of websites
perpetuatecorporategatekeepers
mayprovidebasisforsearchenginecritique
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15. (Political) choices?
Choicesbetween different „digital“ methods? – „followthe medium“
(Rogers 2009)
Choicesbetween different web realities? – „realities do not merelyco-
exist; sometimestheyclashordepend on
eachother, sometimestheyarefoundinsideoneanother“ (Mol 1999)
Who getstomakethesechoices? Researchers? Research fields?
Fundingbodies?
Doestheincrease in visualizationtoolsmirrorthegrowthof innovative
„digital research“? Ordoesitrathercorrespond to
budgetcutssincesoftwaretoolsprovide instant results, while qualitative
web research of „bigdata“ wouldtakeforever?
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16. Thanks!
astrid.mager@oeaw.ac.at
www.astridmager.net
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