Who/Se Data? - A Panel on Politics and Practices of Data

Jessica Schriver, Rutgers University
Rashmi Kumari, Rutgers University
Sreedhar Nemmani, Temple University

The discourses on personal data in a digital age are spread over a wide spectrum of viewpoints. While some argue that ‘we are data’ in the digital age, others observe that data was present and was effectively used to organize even in ancient societies. The proposed panel will deliberate on the role of data in the fields of anthropological research, literature, and media. The panelists look at the emerging scholarship in data from three different fields of inquiries ranging from archival research in children’s literature, anthropological archiving to excavate information for a section of children and youth in contemporary societies, and the tension in the ‘truth’ and the relevance of data in community media spaces. Jess Schriver looks at library data, a rich source of literacy information that is ephemeral in policy and practice. What historical data are available, how do we access that data, and what can we learn about young library patrons through this exercise. Rashmi Kumari’s work compares the process of ‘collecting data’ on youth participation for anthropological research in India, and for qualitative research in New Jersey, the USA to the process of ‘data’ in archives on these groups. She looks at the ways in which categorization and classification of certain sections of youth happen in research as well as in archives. Sreedhar Nemmani looks at the complexities and tensions associated with the identification, and prioritization of topics according to their urgency in a community-based media ecosystem. Based on his fieldwork, Sreedhar’s investigation involves the manipulations and interpretation of data at the hands of policymakers.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 107. Who/se Data? - A Panel on Politics and Practices of Data