Information, photographs, & the cultural inventory: What John Collier, Jr. offers contemporary researchers

Abstract

This poster provides historical, theoretical, and chiefly methodological insights into studying information based around the work of visual anthropologist John Collier, Jr. Collier pioneered "cultural" and "photographic inventories" as means to systematically capture social phenomena. First, Collier's inventorying method is introduced. Then, the analysis of a small sample of Collier's work is described in light of contemporary Information Studies' salient concerns. From this miniature case study, information scholars may learn to: utilize visual data gathering techniques effectively in their research designs; analyze visual data appropriately in their work; and incorporate visual data in their reports with maximal impact. This poster synthesizes hitherto diffuse advice about exploiting the toolkit of innovative, data-enlivening methods proffered by visual approaches and makes the often-fraught arena of visual research accessible to the information field.