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Cited by 196Semiotics and Representation StudiesAnthropological Studies and InsightsContemporary Sociological Theory and Practice

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Agency: The Relation between Meaning, Power, and Knowledge

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Kockelman, Paul·2007·Current Anthropology
DOI 10.1086/512998
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Abstract

Using a Peircean theory of meaning, agency may be theorized in terms of flexibility and accountability, on the one hand, and knowledge and power, on the other. In this theory, residential agency, which is closest to notions such as “power” and “choice,” is the degree to which one can control the expression of a sign, compose a sign‐object relation, and commit to an interpretant of this sign‐object relation. Representational agency, which is closest to notions such as “knowledge” and “consciousness,” is the degree to which one can thematize a process, characterize a feature of this theme, and reason with this theme‐character relation. Agency, as a kind of social and semiotic facility, is thereby theorized as multidimensional, graduated, and distributed. This theory allows one to analyze, as concomitant phenomena, the longue durée processes that underlie relatively perduring institutions and the real‐time practices that support relatively fleeting interactions. Finally, it highlights the theoretical and empirical terrain shared by linguistic anthropology, science and technology studies, political economy, and critical theory.

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Metadata

Authors
Kockelman, P.
Affiliations
Barnard College (US)
Corresponding author
Kockelman, Paul
Venue
Current Anthropology
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Published
2007-06
Volume
48
Issue
3
Pages
375-401
ISSN
  • 0011-3204 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-5382
DOI
10.1086/512998
OpenAlex
W1990423953
Cited by
196
References
5
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 9
FWCI
139.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Current Anthropology (publishedVersion)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Semiotics and Representation Studies
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Anthropological Studies and Insights
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice
Keywords
agency, Peircean semiotics, power and knowledge, interpretant, distributed agency, longue durée, institutions, social semiotics, linguistic anthropology, science and technology studies, political economy, critical theory

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Kockelman, P. (2007). Agency: The Relation between Meaning, Power, and Knowledge. Current Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.1086/512998