Foucault and the Bibliographic Universe: What Really Is an Author?

Abstract

This poster will present connections that are readily apparent between Michel Foucault’s concept of “author” and the “entities” in FRBR. Both Group 1 and Group 2 FRBR Entities have properties that are analogous to Foucault’s ideas of authors and the works they produce. Moreover, Foucault addresses important matters concerning the apprehension of the works and how authors (or, as he phrases it, the “author-function”) are perceived, both directly and as broader notions. FRBR and the entity attributes designated in FRAD have the potential to realize some of the extension of “work” and “author” introduced by Foucault. This poster will include this possible extension.