“If everything is an archive, what meaning does the word have?
I really like this question because it challenges how loosely people use the word “archive.” If everything becomes an archive, then the term loses its power. She is defending the real labor and structure behind institutional archives.
In March, the National Park Service was told to keep quiet about the previous year’s visit data, according to an internal memo shared by Resistance Rangers.
This part makes it clear that data isn’t just a neutral “record” — it can become a political tool. Even choosing not to publicize a dataset is a form of power, because it shapes what the public thinks is happening and what feels “true” or “important.” The dataset doesn’t change, but the story around it does.