Beneath the skin and between the ears: A case study in the politics of representation

Abstract

Constructing social facts: Clarity from ambiguity Events in the world are ambiguous. We struggle to understand these events, to embue them with meaning. The choice of a particular way of representing events gives them a particular meaning. There is often a competition over the correct, appropriate, or preferred way of representing objects, events, or people. In fact, although there are many possible modes of representing the world and communicating them to people, the course of history can be envisioned as successive attempts to impose one mode of representation upon another. Proponents of various positions in conflicts waged in and through discourse attempt to capture or dominate modes of representation. They do so in a variety of ways, including inviting or persuading others to join their side, or silencing opponents by attacking their positions. If successful, a hierarchy is formed, in which one mode of representing the world (its objects, events, people, etc.) gains primacy over others, transforming modes of representation from an array on a horizontal plane to a ranking on a vertical plane. This competition over the meaning of ambiguous events, people, and objects in the world has been called the “politics of representation” (Holquist, 1983; Shapiro, 1987; Mehan & Wills, 1988; Mehan, 1989). For example, there are many ways in which nonresident laborers can be represented: “guest workers,” “potential citizens,” “illegal aliens,” “undocumented workers.” Each formulation or way of representing this group of people does not simply reflect its characteristics.