Technologies of inquiry: HIV tests and divination

Susan Reynolds Whyte; Michael Whyte; David Kyaddondo

doi:10.1086/698359

Technologies of inquiry: HIV tests and divination

Susan Reynolds Whyte, Michael Whyte, David Kyaddondo

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

HIV testing and divination are both performances that offer access to privileged knowledge about grave problems. In comparing this relatively new technology with a very old technology of knowledge, we consider the experience-near analogies in the ritual performance of discovery and the handling of uncertainty. Specialists must convince inquirers that the knowledge revealed is true. Inquirers test the provisional truths these practices offer by seeking a second opinion and by considering the outcomes in the light of previous and subsequent experience. The kinds of evidence deployed and the nature of the institutional landscape in HIV testing differ sharply from those of divination. Yet both practices show how tests must be embedded in the worlds they purport to affect.

Original language	English
Journal	HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory
Volume	8
Issue number	1-2
Pages (from-to)	97-108
ISSN	2049-1115
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/698359
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2018

Keywords

Faculty of Social Sciences
HIV tests
divination
uncertainty
Uganda

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1086/698359

Cite this

@article{5684b2c032ba43419e285859a35747c7,

title = "Technologies of inquiry: HIV tests and divination",

abstract = "HIV testing and divination are both performances that offer access to privileged knowledge about grave problems. In comparing this relatively new technology with a very old technology of knowledge, we consider the experience-near analogies in the ritual performance of discovery and the handling of uncertainty. Specialists must convince inquirers that the knowledge revealed is true. Inquirers test the provisional truths these practices offer by seeking a second opinion and by considering the outcomes in the light of previous and subsequent experience. The kinds of evidence deployed and the nature of the institutional landscape in HIV testing differ sharply from those of divination. Yet both practices show how tests must be embedded in the worlds they purport to affect.",

keywords = "Faculty of Social Sciences, HIV tests, divination, uncertainty, Uganda",

author = "Whyte, {Susan Reynolds} and Michael Whyte and David Kyaddondo",

year = "2018",

month = mar,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1086/698359",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

pages = "97--108",

journal = "HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory",

issn = "2575-1433",

publisher = "University of Chigago Press",

number = "1-2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Technologies of inquiry

T2 - HIV tests and divination

AU - Whyte, Susan Reynolds

AU - Whyte, Michael

AU - Kyaddondo, David

PY - 2018/3/1

Y1 - 2018/3/1

N2 - HIV testing and divination are both performances that offer access to privileged knowledge about grave problems. In comparing this relatively new technology with a very old technology of knowledge, we consider the experience-near analogies in the ritual performance of discovery and the handling of uncertainty. Specialists must convince inquirers that the knowledge revealed is true. Inquirers test the provisional truths these practices offer by seeking a second opinion and by considering the outcomes in the light of previous and subsequent experience. The kinds of evidence deployed and the nature of the institutional landscape in HIV testing differ sharply from those of divination. Yet both practices show how tests must be embedded in the worlds they purport to affect.

AB - HIV testing and divination are both performances that offer access to privileged knowledge about grave problems. In comparing this relatively new technology with a very old technology of knowledge, we consider the experience-near analogies in the ritual performance of discovery and the handling of uncertainty. Specialists must convince inquirers that the knowledge revealed is true. Inquirers test the provisional truths these practices offer by seeking a second opinion and by considering the outcomes in the light of previous and subsequent experience. The kinds of evidence deployed and the nature of the institutional landscape in HIV testing differ sharply from those of divination. Yet both practices show how tests must be embedded in the worlds they purport to affect.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - HIV tests

KW - divination

KW - uncertainty

KW - Uganda

U2 - 10.1086/698359

DO - 10.1086/698359

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2575-1433

VL - 8

SP - 97

EP - 108

JO - HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory

JF - HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory

IS - 1-2

ER -

Technologies of inquiry: HIV tests and divination

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this