Ideal may refer to:

In philosophy

Ideal (ethics), values that one actively pursues as goals

Platonic ideal, a philosophical idea of trueness of form, associated with Plato

In mathematics

Ideal (ring theory), special subsets of a ring considered in abstract algebra

Ideal, special subsets of a semigroup

Ideal (order theory), special kind of lower sets of an order

Ideal (set theory), a collection of sets regarded as "small" or "negligible"

Ideal (Lie algebra), a particular subset in lie algebra

In science

Ideal chain, in science, the simplest model describing a polymer

Ideal gas law, in physics, governing the pressure of an ideal gas

Ideal transformer, an electrical transformer having zero resistance and perfect magnetic threading

Ideal Final Result, in TRIZ methodology, the best possible solution

Ideality (phrenology), in phrenology, the disposition towards refinement and perfection

Thought experiment, sometimes called an ideal experiment

Ideal type, a social science term

Ideal solution, a solution with thermodynamic properties analogous to those of a mixture of ideal gases

Entertainment

''Ideal'' (TV series), a British situation comedy

Ideal (band), late 1990s/2000s American R&B group

Ideal (German band), early 1980s German rock group

Ideal Toy Company, a now defunct toy company

''Ideal'' (album), the 1999 eponymous debut album by the R&B group

Other uses

Changhe Ideal, a city car produced by a joint-venture of Changhe and Suzuki

IDEAL Scholars Fund, an American scholarship program for underrepresented students

Ideal, Georgia, a community in the United States

iDEAL, an online payment method in the Netherlands

Ideal Industries, an American manufacturer of electrical connectors and tools

Places

Ideal, Illinois

Ideal, South Dakota

Ideal Mini School

See also

Idealism (disambiguation)

Idea

cs:Ideál da:Ideel de:Ideal el:Ιδεώδες (αποσαφήνιση) es:Ideal it:Ideale hu:Ideál (egyértelműsítő lap) nl:Ideal ja:アイデアル pl:Ideał pt:Ideal ru:Идеал (значения) sk:Ideál fi:Ideaali sv:Ideal uk:Ідеал zh:理想

Coordinates	45°30′″N73°40′″N
Name	Hashim Sarkis
Birth date	1964
Alma mater	Harvard University
Known for	Professor at Harvard University }}

Hashim Sarkis(1964 in Beirut, Lebanon) is a Lebanese architect. Sarkis received his B.Arch. and BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1987, his M.Arch. with distinction from the Graduate School of Design in 1989, and his PhD in architecture from Harvard University in 1995. Prior to establishing his own practice in 1998, Sarkis worked for several design firms, including for Rafael Moneo on the souks project of Beirut. He was also programs director of Plan B, a non-profit organization involved in improving the quality of the built environment in Lebanon and the Middle East.

He is on the faculty of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Since 1995, Sarkis has been on the faculty of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD), where he teaches design studios and courses in the history and theory of architecture. In 2002, he was appointed the first Aga Khan Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism in Muslim Societies at the GSD. Sarkis also directs the GSD’s Aga Khan Program. In the past, Sarkis was a lecturer at MIT's Department of Architecture and a research associate in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning. He has taught studios at RISD and Yale University and has been visiting lecturer at the American University of Beirut and the Metropolis program in Barcelona. He is the author of several books and articles including Circa 1958: Lebanon in the Pictures and Plans of Constantinos Doxiadis (Beirut: Dar Annahar, 2003), co-editor with Eric Mumford of Josep Lluis Sert: The Architect of Urban Design (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008), editor of CASE: Le Corbusier's Venice Hospital (Munich: Prestel, 2001), co-editor with Peter G. Rowe of Projecting Beirut (Munich: Prestel, 1998), and executive editor of the CASE publication series (GSD/Prestel). Sarkis has served on several international juries and has lectured extensively throughout the world.

Projects & Awards

Short-listed for the Zorlu Center Competition, with Han Tumertekin and George Hargreaves, Istanbul, Turkey 2007 (ongoing)

Finalists for The Edge Competition, with Manuel Aires Mateus, Dubai, UAE 2006-2007 (ongoing)

Progressive Architecture Award: Citation for Bab Tebbaneh School for Working Children, Tripoli, Lebanon 2007

Finalist, IFI Competition, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 2005

Second Place, CMA-CGM Competition, Beirut, Lebanon, 2005

Representatives of Lebanon, Second Rotterdam Architectural Biennale, Rotterdam, The Netherlands May-June 2005

Finalist Award for Housing Project, Cityscape-Architectural Record Award, September 2004

Finalist Award for Entertainment Project, Cityscape-Architectural Record Award, September 2004

Honorable Mention: Elemental International Competition for Low Cost Housing, Chile, 2003

Other Activities

He is the author of several books and articles including Circa 1958: Lebanon in the Pictures and Plans of Constantinos Doxiadis, co-editor with Eric Mumford of Josep Lluis Sert: The Architect of Urban Design, editor of CASE: Le Corbusier's Venice Hospital, co-editor with Peter G. Rowe of Projecting Beirut, and executive editor of the CASE publication series (GSD/Prestel).

His architectural projects have received numerous awards and have been published and exhibited throughout the world, including in the Rotterdam Biennale, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Venice Biennale.

He is as well the Jury head of the Africa Middle East region of the Holcim Awards 2011.

References

External links

Hashim Sarkis Architecture Landscape Urban Design

Category:1964 births Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Lebanese architects Category:Living people

Coordinates	45°30′″N73°40′″N
background	#FFA07A
name	A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
sanskrit
religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Hinduism
other name	Abhay Charanaravinda, Abhay Charan De
birth name	Abhay Charan De
birth date	September 01, 1896
birth place	Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta), West Bengal, India
death date	November 14, 1977
death place	Vrindavan, India
resting place	Prabhupada's Samadhi, Vrindavan
resting place coordinates
location	Vrindavan, India
title	Founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
period	1966 - 1977
predecessor	Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
successor	The Governing Body Commission
initiation	Diksa–1932, Sannyasa–1959
post	Guru, Sannyasi, Acharya
website	ISKCON Worldwide }}

Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (, Sanskrit: , '''') (1 September 1896 – 14 November 1977) was a Gaudiya Vaishnava teacher and the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement". His mission was to propagate Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a form of Hinduism that had been taught to him by his guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, throughout the world. Born Abhay Charan De in Kolkata, he was educated at the prestigious local Scottish Church College. Before adopting the life of a pious renunciant (vanaprastha) in 1950, he was married with children and owned a small pharmaceutical business. In 1959 he took a vow of renunciation (sannyasa) and started writing commentaries on Vaishnava scriptures. In his later years, as a traveling Vaishnava monk, he became an influential communicator of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology to India and specifically to the West through his leadership of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founded in 1966. As the founder of ISKCON, he "emerged as a major figure of the Western counterculture, initiating thousands of young Americans." Despite attacks from anti-cult groups, he received a favorable welcome from many religious scholars, such as J. Stillson Judah, Harvey Cox, Larry Shinn and Thomas Hopkins, who praised Prabhupada's translations and defended the group against distorted media images and misinterpretations. In respect to his achievements, religious leaders from other Gaudiya Vaishnava movements have also given him credit.

He has been described as a charismatic leader, in the sense used by the sociologist Max Weber, as he was successful in acquiring followers in the United States, Europe, India and elsewhere. After his death in 1977, ISKCON, the society he founded based on a type of Hindu Krishnaism using the ''Bhagavata Purana'' as a central scripture, continued to grow and is respected in India, though there have been disputes about leadership among his followers.

Biography

Early life

Born on September 1, 1896, the day after Janmastami, one of the most important Vaishnava holidays, in a humble house in the Tollygunge suburb of Kolkata, he was named Abhay Charan, "''one who is fearless'', ''having taken shelter at Lord Krishna's feet''." Since he was born on the day of Nandotsava ("the celebration of Nanda," Krishna's father, a traditional festival in honor of Krishna's birth) he was also called Nandulal. His parents, Sriman Gour Mohan De and Srimati Rajani De, were devout Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu). In accordance with Bengali tradition, his mother had gone to the home of her parents for the delivery, and only a few days later Abhay returned with parents to his home at 151 Harrison Road in Kokata, where he was brought up and educated.

He received a European led education in the Scottish Church College, Kolkata. This school was well reputed among Bengalis; many Vaishnava families sent their sons there. The professors, most of whom were Europeans, were known as sober, moral men, and it is believed that the students received a good education. The college was located in north Kolkata, not far from Harrison Road where Abhay's family lived. During his years in the college, Prabhupada was a member of the English Society as well as that of the Sanskrit Society, and it has been suggested that his education provided him a foundation for his future leadership. He graduated in 1920 with majors in English, philosophy and economics. However he refused to accept his diploma, being a devout follower of Gandhi at the time. His refusal to accept the diploma he had earned was in protest of the British. He also wore the homespun cotton cloth the followers of Gandhi wore in protest of British clothes.

Religious career

In 1922, when Prabhupada first met his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was requested to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the English language. Later in 1932 Prabhupada became a formally initiated disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta. In 1944, (from his front room at Sita Kanta Banerjee, Kolkata), Prabhupada started the publication called ''Back to Godhead'', for which he acted as designer, publisher, editor, copy editor and distributor. He personally designed the logo, an effulgent figure of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the upper left corner, with the motto: "''Godhead is Light, Nescience is darkness''" greeting the readers. In his first magazine he wrote:

In 1947, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society recognised Prabhupada's scholarship with the title ''Bhaktivedanta,'' ('''') meaning "one who has realised that devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the end of all knowledge" (with the words Bhakti, indicating devotion and Vedanta indicating conclusive knowledge). His later well known name, '''', is a Sanskrit title, literally meaning "he who has taken the position of the Lord" where'' '' denotes "Lord", and '''' means "position." Also, "''at whose feet masters sit''". This name was used as a respectful form of address by his disciples from late 1967 early 1968 onwards. Previous to this, as with his early disciples, followers used to call him "Swamiji".

From 1950 onwards, Prabhupada lived at the medieval Radha-Damodar mandir in the holy town of Vrindavan, where he began his commentary and translation work of the Sanskrit work Bhagavata Purana. Of all notable Vrindavana's temples, the Radha-Damodara mandir had at the time the largest collection of various copies of the original writings of the Six Gosvamis and their followers - more than two thousand separate manuscripts, many of them three hundred, some even four hundred years old. His guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, had always encouraged Prabhupada that "If you ever get money, print books", referring to the need of literary presentation of the Vaishnava culture.

Renunciation

Keshavaji Gaudiya Matha was the place where Prabhupada used to live, he had written and studied in the library of this building, here he edited the '''' magazine and this is the place where he donated the murti of Lord Chaitanya who stands on the altar beside the Deities of Radha Krishna (named ''Śrī Śrī Rādhā Vinodavihārījī''). During his visit in September 1959 he entered the doors of this ''matha'' dressed in white, as Abhay Babu, but would be leaving dressed in saffron, a swami. In this ''matha'', in Mathura Vrindavana, Prabhupada took Vaishnava renunciate vows,''sannyasa'', from his friend and godbrother Bhakti Prajnana Keshava Maharaja , and following this he singlehandedly published the first three volumes covering seventeen chapters of the first book of Bhagavata Purana, filling three volumes of four hundred pages each with a detailed commentary. Introduction to the first volume was a biographical sketch of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. He then left India, obtaining free passage on a freight ship called the ''Jaladuta'', with the aim and a hope of fulfilling his spiritual master's instruction to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu around the world. In his possession were a suitcase, an umbrella, a supply of dry cereal, about eight dollars worth of Indian currency, and several boxes of books.

Mission to the West

Prabhupada sailed to the USA in 1965. His trip to the United States was not sponsored by any religious organization, nor was he met upon arrival by a group of loyal followers. As he neared his destination on the ship, the Indian freighter ''Jaladuta'', the enormity of his intended task weighed on him. On September 13 he wrote in his diary, "Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion, Lord Sri Krishna." On this occasion and on a number of others, Prabhupada, called on Krishna for help in his native Bengali. Examining these compositions, academics regard them as "intimate records of his prayerful preparation for what lay ahead" and a view on "how Bhaktivedanta Swami understood his own identity and mission." By journeying to America, he was attempting to fulfill the wish of his guru, possible only by the grace of "his dear Lord Krishna". It is in July 1966 "global missionary Vaishnavism" was brought to the West by Prabhupada, "the soul agent", founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York City. Prabhupada spent much of the last decade of his life setting up the institution of ISKCON. Since he was the Society's leader, his personality and management were responsible for much of ISKCON's growth and the reach of his mission.

When it was suggested to Bhaktivedanta Swami at the time of founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1966 that a broader term "God Consciousness" would be preferable to "Krishna Consciousness" in the title, he rejected this recommendation, suggesting that name ''Krishna'' includes all other forms and concepts of God.

After a group of devotees and a temple had been established in New York another center was started in San Francisco in 1967. From here Prabhupada traveled throughout America with his disciples, popularizing the movement through street chanting (''sankirtana''), book distribution and public speeches.

Once ISKCON was more established in America a small number of devotees from the San Francisco temple were sent to London, England. After a short time of being in London they came into contact with The Beatles, of whom George Harrison took the greatest interest, spending a significant time speaking with Prabhupada and producing a record with members of the later London Radha Krsna Temple. Over the following years Prabhupada's continuing leadership role took him around the world some several times setting up temples and communities in all of the major continents. By the time of his death in Vrindavan eleven years later in 1977, ISKCON became a widely known expression of Vaishnavism on an international basis.

In the twelve years from his arrival in New York until his final days he: circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents initiated many disciples, awarding sannyasa and babaji initiations. introduced Vedic ''gurukul'' education to a Western audience directed the founding of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, which claims to be the world's largest publisher of ancient and classical Vaishnava religious texts founded the religious colony New Vrindavan in West Virginia, authored more than eighty books (with many available online) on Vedantic philosophy, religion, literature and culture (including four published originally in Bengali) introduced international celebrations in the capitals of the world like that of Jagannatha processions watched ISKCON grow to a confederation of more than 108 temples, various institutes and farm communities

In his discussion with a historian Arnold J. Toynbee in London, Prabhupada is quoted as saying: "I have started this Krishna Conscious Movement among the Indians and Americans and for the next ten thousand years it will increase."

Books and publishing

It is believed that Prabhupada's most significant contribution are his books. Within the final twenty years of his life Prabhupada translated over sixty volumes of classic Vedic scriptures (such as the ''Bhagavad Gita'' and the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'') into the English language. and his ''Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is'' was published by Macmillan Publishers, in 1968 and unabridged edition in 1972, and is now available in over sixty languages around the world and some other books by Prabhupada are available in over eighty different languages.

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust was established in 1972 to publish his works, it has also published massively researched multivolume biography, ''Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta'', that in opinion of Larry Shinn will "certainly be one of the most complete records of the life and work of any modern religious figure". Prabhupada reminded his devotees before his disappearance that he would live forever in his books, and through them would remain present as a spiritual master or guru. Prabhupada had instilled in his followers an understanding of the importance of writing and publishing not only with regard to his works, but also their own initiatives. His early disciples felt Prabhupada had given them ''Back To Godhead'' for their own writings from the very start.

A prominent Gaudiya Vaishnava figure, Shrivatsa Goswami, who as a young man had met Prabhupada in 1972, affirmed the significance of book publishing and distribution in spreading the message of Chaitanya in an interview with Steven Gelberg: }}

Views on other religious traditions

Prabhupada considered Moses, Jesus, and Mohamed to be empowered representatives of God, describing them within his writings as pioneers of the same essential message of dedication to God with love and devotion.

}}

Other typical expression presents a different perspective, where Prabhupada would point out that "today I may be a Hindu, but tomorrow I may become a Christian or Muslim. In this way faiths can be changed, but dharma" is a natural sequence, a natural occupation or a connection and it can not be changed, because it is permanent, according to him. Prabhupada's approach to modern knowledge is also seen in sectarian Orthodox Judaism, where the skills and technical knowledge of modernity are encouraged, but the values rejected. Prabhupada stated "devotees should not be lazy, idle...we are not afraid to work. Whatever our engagement is, by offering the result to Krishna we become Krishna conscious". Some of his representations are believed to affect women adversely and are male-centred, others are tender and celebratory. Prabhupada himself taught a dualism of body and soul and that of the genders. Similar to many traditional religions he considered sexuality and spirituality as conflicting opposites. However among some liberal male followers there is a positive recognition of Prabhupada's own example in applying the spirit of the law according to time, place, person and circumstance, rather than literal tracing of the tradition.

In line with traditional Vaishnava theology, Prabhupada was critical of the monist philosophies of Hinduism representing the Gaudiya Vaishnava point of view and often insulting the orthodox Vedanta adherents of monism with 'cruel words'. In the view of some, the Gaudiya-Vaishnava philosophy he followed is neither fully dualistic nor monist (this is known as Achintya Bheda Abheda). As a school of thought, Gaudiya Vaishnavism has much more in common with the Dvaita, as opposed to the Advaita schools.

Within India

Initially, Srila Prabhupada began his public preaching mission in India. He founded the League of Devotees in Jhansi in 1953.

Following the establishment of temples and centres in the United States and Europe, Prabhupada returned to India in 1971, holding many public programs which were well attended. From 1971 onwards, the movement became increasingly popular and spread throughout the country, Prabhupada was particularly eager to see the progress at "the impressive temple project in" Mumbai which he and his disciples had fought very hard to establish, with large temples in Mayapur and Vrindavan to follow in mid 1970s.

In 1996, the Government of India recognized Prabhupada's accomplishments by issuing a commemorative stamp in his honour as a part of Prabhupada Centennial celebrations.

Speaking at the inauguration of ISKCON's cultural center in New Delhi on 5 April on occasion of Ramnavmi in 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then India's prime minister, said:

Monuments

A number of memorial samadhis or shrines to Prabhupada were constructed by the members of ISKCON in his remembrance. The largest of which are in Mayapur, Vrindavan and at the larger sized temples in America. Prabhupada's Palace of Gold was designed and constructed by devotees of the New Vrindavan community and dedicated on September 2, 1979. Back in 1972 it was intended to be simply a residence for Prabhupada, but over time the plans evolved into an ornate marble and gold palace which is now visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims each year, visiting this centerpiece of the community strongly relying upon tourist trade.

Selected bibliography

Translations with commentary

''Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is'' (1968) ''Śrī Īśopanishad'' (1969) ''Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam'' (1972–77) (Vols.) ''Caitanya-caritāmrta'' (1974) (Vols.) ''The Nectar of Instruction'' (1975)

Summary studies

''Teachings of Lord Caitanya'' (1969) ''Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead'' (1970) ''The Nectar of Devotion'' (1970)

Other works published within Prabhupada's lifetime

''Beyond Illusion and Doubt (1967)''

''Search for Liberation (1969)''

''Easy Journey to Other Planets (1970)''

''Krishņa Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System (1970)''

''Beyond Birth and Death (1972)''

''The Perfection of Yoga (1972)''

''On The Way to Krishņa (1973)''

''Rāja-vidyā: The King of Knowledge (1973)''

''Elevation to Krishņa Consciousness (1973)''

''Krishņa Consciousness: The Matchless Gift (1974)''

''Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers (1977)''

''Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūtī (1977)''

''The Science of Self-Realization (1977)''

''Back to Godhead'' magazine (founder)

Bengali writings

Geetār-gan

Vairāgya-vidyā

Buddhi-yoga

Bhakti-ratna-boli

Published posthumously

''Light of the Bhāgavata'' (1978)''

''Teachings of Queen Kuntī'' (1978) ''Life Comes From Life (1978)''

''Krishņa, The Reservoir of Pleasure'' (1972)''

''Chant and Be Happy'' (1982) ''Coming Back'' (1983?) ''Path of Perfection'' (1989) ''Nārada bhakti sūtra'' (1991) ''Mukunda-mālā-stotra'' (1989)

''A Second Chance'' (1991)''

''Journey of Self Discovery'' (1991)''

''Laws of Nature: An Infallible Justice'' (1991)

''Renunciation Through Wisdom'' (1992)''

''Quest for Enlightenment'' (1993)''

''The Path of Yoga'' (1995)''

''Message of Godhead'' (1996?)''

''Civilization and Transcendence'' (1998)

''Dharma: The Way of Transcendence'' (1998)''

''Introduction to Bhagavad-gītā'' (2005)''

See also

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is

Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Krishnaism

Gaudiya Vaishnavism

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

List of ISKCON members and patrons

Footnotes

References

External links

Category:Article Feedback Pilot Category:1896 births Category:1977 deaths Category:Hindu gurus Category:Hindu monks Category:International Society for Krishna Consciousness Category:Indian religious leaders Category:People from Kolkata Category:Gaudiya religious figures Category:Hindu revivalist writers Category:Krishnology Category:Krishna Category:Bengali people Category:Alumni of Scottish Church College, Calcutta Category:University of Calcutta alumni Category:Indian Hare Krishnas Category:Khol players

bn:অভয়চরণারবিন্দ ভক্তিবেদান্ত স্বামী প্রভুপাদ bg:Бхактиведанта Свами Прабхупада cs:A. C. Bhaktivédánta Svámí Prabhupáda de:A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada es:Bhaktivedānta Swami eo:A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada fr:A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gu:એ.સી. ભક્તિવેદાંત સ્વામી પ્રભુપાદ hi:भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपाद hr:Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada id:A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada it:A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada lt:Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada hu:A. C. Bhaktivedánta Szvámi Prabhupáda mk:А. Ч. Бхактиведанта Свами Прабхупада ml:സ്വാമി പ്രഭുപാദ് mr:प्रभुपाद ms:A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada nl:A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Praphupada ja:A・C・バクティヴェーダンタ・スワミ・プラブパーダ no:A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada pl:Bhaktiwedanta Swami Prabhupada pt:Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ru:Бхактиведанта Свами Прабхупада simple:A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada sl:A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada fi:A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami sv:Srila Prabhupada ta:பக்திவேதாந்த சுவாமி பிரபுபாதா uk:Бгактіведанта Свамі Прабгупада

Siva Vaidhyanathan (born 1966) is a cultural historian and media scholar, and is currently a professor of Media Studies and Law at the University of Virginia. Vaidhyanathan is a frequent contributor on media and cultural issues in various periodicals including ''The Chronicle of Higher Education'', ''New York Times Magazine'', ''The Nation'', ''MSNBC.com'', and Salon.com. He is a fellow of the New York Institute for the Humanities and the Institute for the Future of the Book. From 2004 through 2008 he maintained a blog, Sivacracy.net, on which he frequently commented on media and technology issues, as well as his love of sports.

Biography

Vaidhyanathan was born in Buffalo, New York, and attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning both a BA in History and a Ph.D. in American Studies. From 1999 through the summer of 2007 he worked in the Department of Culture and Communication at New York University, the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Columbia University.

Critical Information Studies

Critical Information Studies is a term coined by Siva Vaidhyanathan in 2006 to describe an emerging, transdisciplinary field concerned broadly with the politics of information in contemporary, connected societies. It first appeared in print in an essay he authored entitled, "Critical Information Studies: A Bibliographic Manifesto," which was the afterword to a 2006 special issue of the journal '' Cultural Studies.''

Vaidhyanathan has argued that academics from many fields associated with what he calls “Critical Information Studies” (which synthesizes, yet also goes beyond, key aspects of both Cultural Studies and Political Economy) should be engaged in interrogating the “structures, functions, habits, norms, and practices” of particular aspects of information culture and in analyzing how these issues go beyond simple arguments about digital “rights” to include consideration of the more subtle impacts of cost and access that have the potential for chilling effects on a “semiotic democracy” that is situated in “global flows of information.”

Many of those affiliated with the field have been critical voices in professional organizations such as the Society for Social Studies of Science and the American Library Association who are concerned about how computer architecture may limit the possibilities of what Henry Jenkins has called "participatory culture." Rather than accept utopian enthusiasms about "Web 2.0" uncritically, these scholars point to possible vulnerabilities in democratic institutions posed by Digital Rights Management, tampering with electronic voting, and otherwise trusting private corporations with public information infrastructure.

According to Vaidhyanathan, Critical Information Studies is defined by four principal concerns:

the abilities and liberties to use, revise, criticize, and manipulate cultural texts, images, ideas, and information;

the rights and abilities of users (or consumers or citizens) to alter the means and techniques through which cultural texts and information are rendered, displayed, and distributed;

the relationship among information control, property rights, technologies, and social norms; and

the cultural, political, social, and economic ramifications of global flows of culture and information.

Vaidhyanathan goes on to argue that Critical Information Studies is "inchoate." Rather than an established field in its own right, it is one that is beginning to take shape and gain its own sense of identity. His essay therefore provides a detailed "taxonomy" of work which, though coming from disparate disciplines, could justifiably be included under this new rubric. These disciplines include American Studies, Anthropology, Communication, Computer Science, Cultural Studies, Ethnic Studies, Legal Studies, Library and Information Science, Literary Studies, Media Studies, Musicology, Political Science, and Sociology. Because work in Critical Information Studies cuts across these and other more traditional academic domains, Vaidhyanathan describes it as a "transfield."

Although Vaidhyanathan identifies Critical Information Studies as a scholarly practice, he also stresses its strong commitment to public engagement.

Selected books

''Copyrights and Copywrongs: The Rise of Intellectual Property and How It Threatens Creativity'', NYU Press, 2001. (ISBN 978-0814788073)

''The Anarchist in the Library: How the Clash Between Freedom and Control Is Hacking the Real World and Crashing the System'', Basic Books, 2004. (ISBN 978-0465089857)

''Rewiring the Nation: The Place of Technology in American Studies'', co-edited with Carolyn de la Peña, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007. (ISBN 978-0801886515)

''The Googlization of Everything -- and Why We Should Worry'', University of California Press, 2011. (ISBN 978-0520258822). The text was in open development on a blog, launched September 27, 2007 in collaboration with the Institute for the Future of the Book.

See also

Anti-copyright

Good Copy Bad Copy

Mashup (music)

Steal This Film

Googlization

References

Camp, L. Jean. DRM: doesn't really mean digital copyright management

Eschenfelder, Kristin R. (2007) Every Library’s Nightmare? Digital Rights Management and Licensed Scholarly Digital Resources

Ross, Andrew. "Technology and Below-the-Line Labor in the Copyfight over Intellectual Property". ''American Quarterly'', Volume 58, Number 3, September 2006, pp. 743–766

Vaidhyanathan, Siva. "Critical Information Studies: A Bibliographic Manifesto". ''Cultural Studies'' 20(2/3) (March/May 2006): 292–315. ISSN 0950-2386 Download the .pdf

External links

Vaidhyanathan's personal blog

Videos of conversations and discussions involving Vaidhyanathan on Bloggingheads.tv

Category:1966 births Category:American academics Category:Copyright activists Category:Copyright scholars Category:Intellectual property activism Category:Living people Category:American bloggers Category:University of Virginia School of Law faculty

de:Siva Vaidhyanathan