Seeking critical literacies in information practices : Reconceptualising critical literacy as situated and tool-mediated enactments of meaning

• Introduction. This paper argues for a reconceptualisation of critical literacy into critical literacies as a merger of respective strengths in two traditions: the elaborate politicised conceptions of critical in associated literacy traditions, and the attention to situated enactments of meaning expressed in literacies approaches. Method. Firstly, a selective conceptual review forms basis for the reconceptualisation of critical literacies. Secondly, this reconceptualisation is used to reinterpret a small convenience sample of information practices studies. Analysis. Information practices studies are re-interpreted with particular attention to two main aspects of the critical literacies reconceptualisation in terms of evaluative and transformative enactments of meaning. Results. The individual studies analysed can be reinterpreted as also describing critical literacies although, due to their alternative framings, not naming them as such and merely comprising a limited range of possible aspects. Conclusion. Focus on situated enactments of critical literacy (critical literacies) can provide a topical addition to the analytical focus and explanatory realm of information practices studies. These studies in turn can help further explore the critical literacies concept and formulate relations between normative definitions and local practices. This requires, however, explicit and comprehensive attention to critical literacies beyond and across sites, tools and users in new ways.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Information Studies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Critical literacy

information literacy

sociocultural perspective

sociotechnical theories

Library and Information Science

Biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)