Response to Michel Callon's "Some Elements of a Sociology of Translation"

Michel Callon's "Some Elements of a Sociology of Translation" outlines the process of translation as shown by the study of scallops in St. Brieuc Bay. He describes the process of domesticating scallops by introducing four separate entities and their goals. The article creates and supports a theory where each of these entities must overcome obstacles known as obligatory passage points in order to ultimately achieve their goals. After a thorough description on the scientific side of this process, Callon casts a sociological eye upon the study of the scallops. He exposes to the reader the importance of representation not only in research, but also in the larger picture of life. Only a few trusted experts from each entity served as the voice of their whole community throughout this project. This occurrence proves to complicate the research, for certainly few voices cannot always portray the general will of all of an entity's members. Callon parallels this act to the scallops themselves, for different species are being represented by others, causing confusion for all entities.

Callon's juxtaposition of scientific jargon and sociological analysis is surprisingly easy to follow and enjoyable. His article causes readers to question the way they (or others) are represented in any scenario. Callon also highlights the animals themselves, showing that they, too, need a stronger representation. As humans, we cannot ignorantly assume that they are the same as another similar to themselves. It seems comparable to when siblings are assumed to be carbon copies of their relatives; they are not given a voice of their own. Humans should be less blind; they should be intelligent enough to acknowledge all species and give each species their own rights. Callon's study of scallops can, ironically, be a representation for other research, for it exposes the structure of any study. Whether in science or the real world, Callon's readers can evaluate how the actors in any entity are representative of others, and how at times that can cause confusion.