The Configurational Building Blocks of Models of Description - Audiovisual Archives - page 281

Let us take from our brief discussion of the example of referential description of
the domain, research in human and social sciences , that in its simplest internal
organization, a sequence presents as a single entity , made up, as we shall very
shortly see, of at least two schemas of definition - a schema of definition of the
object of analysis* and a schema of definition of the activity of analysis* . However,
it can also be deployed as a whole network of sub-sequences, positioned in relation
to one another according to a precise syntagmatic structure.
Finally, a syntagmatic organization of sequences such as that shown in our
example (Figure 16.4) may be supplemented by new sub-sequences which
constitute either alternatives to a sub-sequence already identified and defined in the
existing syntagmatic organization or complements to it, additions .
Figure16.5. Definitionofasequencebyanappropriatecanonic
pairofconceptualschemasofdefinition
Let us take the example of the sub-sequence Description of the theme “Research
activity” . This is defined and positioned as a simple sequence, as an indivisible
entity in the configuration of sequences which we use to analyze subjects relating to
research in human and social sciences (Figure 16.4). However, there is nothing
standing in the way of alternative sequences to this one being defined - alternative
sequences which enable us to adapt the task of analysis to the particularities of a
given audiovisual corpus or archive. When the macro-sequence entitled Analys is
“Scientific research in HSS” is selected to figure in a model of thematic description,
then the sub-sequence Description of the theme “Research activity” will not be
selected as is shown in Figure 16.4, but rather, one or other of its alternatives. These
remarks also apply to a case where one or more specialized sequences have to be
added to an existing configuration of sequences.
Every sequence - be it simple or composed of two or several more specialized
sequences - is a relational entity which, on the one hand, positions the conceptual
schemas of definition* in relation to one another and which, on the other hand, is
positioned in relation to other sequences to form a modelofdescription* .