Amateur Knowledge: Public Art and Citizen Science

The science studies literatures on amateurs and citizen science have remained largely unconnected despite similarities between the two categories. The essay connects amateur knowledge and citizen science through examples from public art. Through an analysis of the use of the term "amateur" by contemporary artists working to engage the public in critiques of science, connections in the ideals of democratic knowledge making by amateurs and citizen scientists are further explored. "Amateur" can be a slur. The term is ambiguous, but generally suggests a lesser position than professional. The groups who identify themselves with this term-for example, amateur photographers and amateur astronomers-occupy a position outside the main body of knowledge production, even as they may contribute to the enterprise. By examining the work of new media artists, who blur and blend these boundaries as part of their artistic practice, this study seeks to complicate binary understandings of the notion of amateur-professional and citizen-scientist by suggesting that some actors take control of these categories and bend them to meet their needs.