Forces

In a criminal investigation, often the forensic evidence strengthens the case. Similarly (though not leading the reader to believe that any criminal intentions exist), when investigating an issue or controversy, the "latent prints," the interpretations of all the actors involved and their stance need to be analyzed. In the mass media, the one-sided message-frequency establishes a unilateral understanding of the issue. Thus presenting a view that only portrays a photograph of a given context—not a movie of all the elements at play during the processing of the issue.

Latour, simply wants to encourage the questioning of “black boxes.” I look at it as the democratization of an issue, where every facet of an issue gets highlighted, equally. No one aspect gets favorable view from a Latourian investigator. In this investigations, the linkage between sources, resources, actors, texts and other “influencers” need to be studied and exposed in the sense that their roles need to be analyzed and de-constructed in relevance to the issue. Several questions need to be asked as to why they are part of the debate, and what do they gain/loose from certain outcomes.

The issue that I have decided to study is: the effects on nuclear plant workers from years of radioactive exposure and their unsuccessful efforts at receiving proper health care and financial assistance by the United States Government.