Bringing Byung-Chul Han closer to Information Science through the concept of information regime.

Abstract

Given the importance and relevance of using the concept of information regime to highlight the intricate relationships and associations between different and heterogeneous actors, their tensions and power asymmetries operating in informational structures and flows that establish, strengthen, or undermine relationships in the social, cultural, cognitive, ethical, scientific, and political spheres, this work proposes an approach to Information Science (IS) using the concept of information regime as discussed by the philosopher Byung-Chul Han. To this end, it aims, through bibliographic research, to present convergent points, differences, and specificities between Han's approach and Foucault's perspective on disciplinary regime, using as a starting point the definitions of information regime formulated by Bernd Frohmann and Maria Nélida González de Gomez. We seek to present definitions of the concept that can underpin future reflections on issues for a critical use of data, information, and digital technological artifacts in the field of Digital Humanities. As a result, a comparative framework was developed between the three authors, based on the identification of six analytical categories, namely: information regime, power, locus of the regime, role of the subject, key concepts, and control mechanism.