Description
Book SynopsisThe reign of paper files would seem to be over once files are reduced to the status of icons on computer screens, but Vismann's book, which examines the impact of the file on Western institutions throughout history, shows how the creation of order in medieval and early modern administrations makes its returns in computer architecture.
Trade Review"Cornelia Vismann's extraordinary
Files . . . presents a methodology for addressing the relationship between media technologies and politics that is often absent, or at least shadowy, in materialist media theory of the Kittlerian style."—Seb Franklin,
The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory"Vismann's erudite and attentive analysis shows clear awareness of the danger of both a perfect order (where everything is registered, recorded) and that of a deconstruction possible turning into an order of its own kind with potentially its own para-juridical legend."—Thanos Zartaloudis,
Parallax"Vismann's
Files is a highly original and theoretical project that combines the thinking of Derrida (on law and its enforcement) and Foucault (on juridical discourse and 'gouvernmentalité') with specific motifs of German media theory as developed by Friedrich Kittler. The book is a state-of-the-art contribution to the analysis of culture that allows us to envision a truly new interrelation between historical research and a comprehensive philosophy of culture that is yet to come." —Rüdiger Campe, Yale UniversityTable of Contents@fmct:Contents @toc4:Translator's Note iii Preface: Off the Record iii @toc2:Chapter 1: Law's Writing Lessons 000 Chapter 2: From Translating to Legislating 000 Chapter 3: From Documents to Records 000 Chapter 4: Governmental Practices 000 Chapter 5: From the Bureau to Data Protection 000 Chapter 6: Files-Icons 000 @toc4:Notes 000 Index 000
