Authority/Archive
Archives are not neutral repositories of truth but curated collections that reflect specific power structures. Martens' journal gained prominence not because it was a comprehensive account, but because it served particular interests – in this case, providing valuable information about whaling practices. The authority of such archives is constructed through selective inclusion, strategic omission, and the implicit assumption of the documenter's credibility. This reveals how knowledge production is fundamentally a political act.
Archives are not neutral repositories of truth but curated collections that reflect specific power structures. Martens' journal gained prominence not because it was a comprehensive account, but because it served particular interests – in this case, providing valuable information about whaling practices. The authority of such archives is constructed through selective inclusion, strategic omission, and the implicit assumption of the documenter's credibility. This reveals how knowledge production is fundamentally a political act.