Objects and Agency: Science and Technology Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Histories of Knowledge in the Early Modern World
Drawing from a combination of the author’s own research on Portugal’s empire and recent work across a range of disciplines, this essay discusses the growing dialogue between Latin American studies and science and technology studies (STS). It discusses key similarities and differences in the question...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Latin American Research Review |
| Online Access: | https://larrlasa.org/articles/647 |
| _version_ | 1811248854030352384 |
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| author | Hugh Cagle |
| author_facet | Hugh Cagle |
| author_sort | Hugh Cagle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Drawing from a combination of the author’s own research on Portugal’s empire and recent work across a range of disciplines, this essay discusses the growing dialogue between Latin American studies and science and technology studies (STS). It discusses key similarities and differences in the questions, methods, and theoretical frameworks which have guided research in both areas. It focuses particular attention on the divergent ways in which the two interdisciplinary arenas of scholarship have handled objects and materiality. The author argues that despite important differences in orientation, a focus on objects and materiality informed by STS perspectives can broaden the archive available to scholars of colonial Latin America, challenge and extend critical insights of colonial research, and call into question the adequacy of conventional Latin American and Atlantic spatial frameworks. Resumo Baseando-se numa combinação das pesquisas do próprio autor com trabalhos recentes de temas variados, o presente artigo trata do diálogo crescente entre Estudos Latinoamericanos e Estudos de Ciência e Tecnologia (STS). O artigo aborda semelhanças e diferenças centrais nas questões, métodos e estruturas teóricas que até então têm guiado investigações nos campos de Estudos Latinoamericanos e STS. Ele foca particularmente nas diferentes formas que os dois âmbitos interdisciplinares de pesquisa tratam objetos e materialidade. O autor argumenta que apesar das diferentes orientações dessas duas áreas, o foco em objetos e as suas materialidades, baseado nas perspectivas do STS, permite uma ampliação do arquivo disponível aos que investigam a América Latina colonial, desafia e expande o pensamento crítico desse campo e incentiva novos questionamentos sobre o uso de conceitos espaciais convencionais da América Latina e do Atlântico que vêm sendo utilizados por pesquisadores do tema. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:35:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-23eac5d3b6644e5eb9fdaeb5995babd5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1542-4278 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:35:16Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Latin American Research Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-23eac5d3b6644e5eb9fdaeb5995babd52022-12-22T03:26:58ZengCambridge University PressLatin American Research Review1542-42782019-12-0154410.25222/larr.647241Objects and Agency: Science and Technology Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Histories of Knowledge in the Early Modern WorldHugh Cagle0University of UtahDrawing from a combination of the author’s own research on Portugal’s empire and recent work across a range of disciplines, this essay discusses the growing dialogue between Latin American studies and science and technology studies (STS). It discusses key similarities and differences in the questions, methods, and theoretical frameworks which have guided research in both areas. It focuses particular attention on the divergent ways in which the two interdisciplinary arenas of scholarship have handled objects and materiality. The author argues that despite important differences in orientation, a focus on objects and materiality informed by STS perspectives can broaden the archive available to scholars of colonial Latin America, challenge and extend critical insights of colonial research, and call into question the adequacy of conventional Latin American and Atlantic spatial frameworks. Resumo Baseando-se numa combinação das pesquisas do próprio autor com trabalhos recentes de temas variados, o presente artigo trata do diálogo crescente entre Estudos Latinoamericanos e Estudos de Ciência e Tecnologia (STS). O artigo aborda semelhanças e diferenças centrais nas questões, métodos e estruturas teóricas que até então têm guiado investigações nos campos de Estudos Latinoamericanos e STS. Ele foca particularmente nas diferentes formas que os dois âmbitos interdisciplinares de pesquisa tratam objetos e materialidade. O autor argumenta que apesar das diferentes orientações dessas duas áreas, o foco em objetos e as suas materialidades, baseado nas perspectivas do STS, permite uma ampliação do arquivo disponível aos que investigam a América Latina colonial, desafia e expande o pensamento crítico desse campo e incentiva novos questionamentos sobre o uso de conceitos espaciais convencionais da América Latina e do Atlântico que vêm sendo utilizados por pesquisadores do tema.https://larrlasa.org/articles/647 |
| spellingShingle | Hugh Cagle Objects and Agency: Science and Technology Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Histories of Knowledge in the Early Modern World Latin American Research Review |
| title | Objects and Agency: Science and Technology Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Histories of Knowledge in the Early Modern World |
| title_full | Objects and Agency: Science and Technology Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Histories of Knowledge in the Early Modern World |
| title_fullStr | Objects and Agency: Science and Technology Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Histories of Knowledge in the Early Modern World |
| title_full_unstemmed | Objects and Agency: Science and Technology Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Histories of Knowledge in the Early Modern World |
| title_short | Objects and Agency: Science and Technology Studies, Latin American Studies, and Global Histories of Knowledge in the Early Modern World |
| title_sort | objects and agency science and technology studies latin american studies and global histories of knowledge in the early modern world |
| url | https://larrlasa.org/articles/647 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hughcagle objectsandagencyscienceandtechnologystudieslatinamericanstudiesandglobalhistoriesofknowledgeintheearlymodernworld |