Postmodern archival science and contemporary diplomatics New approaches for archival knowledge organization

New information technologies and new forms of documentary production have led archivists to rethink the role of archival science in the so-called information age. Since the late 1980s, the principles, methods and concepts stated by the well-known manuals of the 19th and the 20th centuries have been reconsidered along with their application to the organic sets of document in the 21st century. In this new scenario of reformulation and reinterpretation regarding the perspectives on archival knowledge organization, two trends with different approaches have emerged in North America and Europe: postmodern archival science and contemporary diplomatics, respectively. The first one was introduced by Terry Cook, who proposed a reformulation of the basic concepts and the functional analysis method focusing on the process and context of document creation. The second approach originated in Italy and incorporated all the theoretical and methodological models of classic diplomatics. The studies following this new trend were disseminated by Luciana Duranti and aimed to ensure the production, access and use of the documentation generated in the present times focusing on document typology, as opposed by the postmodern approach. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the connection points and distinct features between the two trends concerning the organization of archival knowledge.

A organização do conhecimento arquivístico: perspectivas de renovação a partir das abordagens científicas canadenses

Desde o final do século XX, as novas formas de produção documental e as novas tecnologias de informação apresentadas à Arquivística têm levado os profissionais da informação a repensar os conceitos e princípios arquivísticos postulados nos antigos manuais da área. Nesse contexto, destaca-se a produção arquivística canadense, que transformou o país em solo fértil para as discussões que circundam a disciplina na contemporaneidade, representando muito bem as necessidades colocadas pelos novos meios de produção documental aos arquivistas na sociedade da informação, redescobrindo princípios e (re) definindo conceitos, métodos e critérios para a criação, manutenção e uso de documentos em meio tradicional e eletrônico. Foi notadamente na década de 1980, que um novo paradigma se enunciou na área e, a partir dele, três correntes emergiram: a Arquivística Integrada - enunciada pela Escola de Québec - que propõe a reintegração da disciplina por meio do ciclo vital dos documentos e uma possível aproximação com a Ciência da Informação, graças à incorporação do termo informação orgânica registrada, como substituição ao termo documento de arquivo; a Arquivística Funcional ou Pós-Moderna, enunciada por Terry Cook - que propõe uma renovação e reformulação dos princípios e conceitos originais da disciplina, adotando a corrente Pós-moderna como pano de fundo; e a Diplomática Arquivística, enunciada primeiramente na Itália por Paola Carucci, mas desenvolvida e reformulada na América do Norte por Luciana Duranti, que busca, por meio do estudo da Diplomática, estabelecer critérios para a crítica textual dos documentos contemporâneos, garantindo ao método diplomático um posto fundamental na Arquivística contemporânea. A vista de tais aspectos, analisa-se, comparativamente, o universo epistemológico dessas três abordagens arquivísticas canadenses, enquanto perspectivas emergentes para a construção de uma disciplina contemporânea, capaz de dar conta dos novos processos de produção, organização e uso da informação orgânica registrada.

Da crítica diplomática à análise tipológica: abordagens e técnicas de análise documental

This study, of an instrumental nature, discusses the theoretical differences which underpin the documentary analysis models used in traditional Diplomatics and Contemporary Diplomatics. Undoubtedly, both models of analysis contribute to the understanding of the sources -a vital point of the process of analyzing the document to be used in any area. Thus, the choice of either technique must take into account the goals proposed for the research, according to the object that is taken as the reference point: the archival series or the individual document. That way, issues such as the evidential value and diplomatic authenticity are important within the Archival Science, which seeks through auxiliary disciplines to verify the historical trail of the document, from the moment of its production, usage and archiving, as well as the various custodians, contributing in a large measure to the understanding of its information -what is registered as well as the context- in its broadest sense.

A contribuição epistemológica canadense para a construção da arquivística contemporânea

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

How does ‘Newstainment’ actually work? : ethnographic research methods and contemporary popular news

Much debate has taken place recently over the potential for entertainment genres and unorthodox forms of news to provide legitimate – indeed democratized – in-roads into the public sphere. Amidst these discussions, however, little thought has been paid to the audiences for programs of this sort, and (even when viewers are considered) the research can too easily treat audiences in homogenous terms and therefore replicate the very dichotomies these television shows directly challenge. This paper is a critical reflection on an audience study into the Australian morning “newstainment” program Sunrise. After examining the show and exploring how it is ‘used’ as a news source, this paper will promote the use of ethnographic study to better conceptualize how citizens integrate and connect the increasingly fragmented and multifarious forms of postmodern political communication available in their everyday lives.

‘Beijing bling’: creative details and consumer choices in contemporary China : an interview with Hung Huang

This edited interview with Hung Huang, CEO of China Interactive Media Group (CIMG), was conducted by Lucy Montgomery in Beijing on 12 August 2005. It was done as part of the ARC Discovery research project, Internationalising Creative Industries: China, the WTO and the Knowledge Economy, led by John Hartley. That project is investigating the development of creative industries in China by focusing on a number of creative services including fashion magazines. Huang’s group publishes five fashion magazines in China, including i-Look, Youth International (Qingnian Yizu), which is the Chinese edition of Seventeen (originally founded by TV-Guide mogul Walter Annenberg), and the Beijing and Shanghai versions of London’s Time Out. It also produces TV programs under the same media brands. The company is based in the stylish Bauhaus-designed former factory 798-Space in the district of Dashanzi, Beijing (see www.798space.com). Huang went to school in Greenwich Village and graduated from Vassar College in New York. She is the daughter of Zhang Hanzhi, who was Mao Zedong’s personal English teacher, and stepdaughter of Qiao Guanhua, Foreign Minister of China during the 1970s at the time of the Nixon visit. Her book My Abnormal Life sold 200,000 copies in China.

Contemporary issues in Australian family law: Do we need a more unified and interventionist judicial model

Recent decisions of the Family Court of Australian reflect concerns over the adversarial nature of the legal process. The processes and procedures of the judicial system militate against a detailed examination of the issues and rights of the parties in dispute. The limitations of the family law framework are particularly demonstrated in disputes over the custody of children where the Court has tended to neglect the rights and interests of the primary carer. An alternative "unified family court" framework will be examined in which the Court pursues a more active and interventionist approach in the determination of family law disputes.

Social justice and high-quality human services : visioning the place of a contemporary professional association

The current world situation is plagued by “wicked problems” and a widespread sense of “things are going to get worse”. We confront the almost imponderable consequences of global habitat destruction and climate change, as well as the meltdown of the financial markets with their largely yet to be seen damage to the “real economy”. These things will have considerable negative impacts on the social system and people's lives, particularly the disadvantaged and socially excluded, and require innovative policy and program responses delivered by caring, intelligent, and committed practitioners. These gargantuan issues put into perspective the difficulties that confront social, welfare, and community work today. Yet, in times of trouble, social work and human services tend to do well. For example, although Australian Social Workers and Welfare and Community Workers have experienced phenomenal job growth over the past 5 years, they also have good prospects for future growth and above average salaries in the seventh and sixth deciles, respectively (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2008). I aim to examine the host of reasons why the pursuit of social justice and high-quality human services is difficult to attain in today's world and then consider how the broadly defined profession of social welfare practitioners may collectively take action to (a) respond in ways that reassert our role in compassionately assisting the downtrodden and (b) reclaim the capacity to be a significant body of professional expertise driving social policy and programs. For too long social work has responded to the wider factors it confronts through a combination of ignoring them, critiquing from a distance, and concentrating on the job at hand and our day-to-day responsibilities. Unfortunately, “holding the line” has proved futile and, little by little, the broad social mandate and role of social welfare has altered until, currently, most social programs entail significant social surveillance of troublesome or dangerous groups, rather than assistance. At times it almost seems like the word “help” has been lost in the political and managerial lexicon, replaced by “manage” and “control”. Our values, beliefs, and ethics are under real threat as guiding principles for social programs.

Contemporary consumer law : the role and effectiveness of regulation in consumer protection

This issue of the Griffith Law Review focuses on consumer law, and the pervasive nature of this area of law. We are all consumers, but do not necessarily identify as such, nor are we a homogeneous group. The boundaries of