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Jutta Haider¹ & Olof Sundin²
Wikipedia, heterotopi och versioner av kulturella minnen

Affiliation: ¹Lund university; ²University of Borås & Lund university
 

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Keywords: archives, encyclopaedias, Foucault, heterotopia, knowledge production, Wikipedia

Abstract: The article draws together studies on encyclopaedic expressions throughout history with Foucault's notion of heterotopia, i.e. actually existing utopias or ‘other’, particular spaces that exist besides society's regular spaces and which work according to their own rules. It explores how we can understand contemporary online encyclopaedias, specifically Wikipedia, as digital heterotopias. For this it investigates Wikipedia as an archive for our cultural memory in its different – and sometimes contested – versions. In conclusion, participatory online encyclopaedias are framed as a continuation of an Enlightenment ideal as well as distinct networked spaces that are made possible through the affordances of the Internet.  

The article may be referenced as
Haider, Jutta & Olof Sundin (2011). “Wikipedia, heterotopi och versioner av kulturella minnen.” Human IT 11.3: 1–20. <http://www.hb.se/bhs/ith/3-11/jhos.pdf>

Högskolan i Borås Human IT / ITH 501 90 Borås Tfn. 033-435 44 21 (redaktör) Fax. 033-435 40 05 E-post. human.it@hb.se ISSN 1402-150X   Published: August 30, 2011 By: Jonas Söderholm

University College of Borås Human IT / ITH SE-501 90 Borås, Sweden Phone. +46 33 435 44 21(editor) Fax. +46 33 435 40 05 E-mail. human.it@hb.se ISSN  1402-150X   Published with support from University College of Borås and Nordic board for periodicals in the humanities and social sciences