![[Frankenstein#^7f6444]] https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/acid-horizon/id1512615438?i=1000681313286 This special episode features a replay of Claire Colebrook’s presentation of her paper What’s Wrong with Extinction?, delivered at the Time, Waste, Extinction workshop held at Penn State University in September 2024. [[Acid Horizon]] was proud to collaborate with this event, bringing together leading thinkers to interrogate the cultural, ethical, and political frameworks through which extinction is commonly understood. In this talk, Claire challenges anthropocentric assumptions underlying ecological and ethical debates, urging a reconsideration of extinction beyond human survival and crisis narratives. The presentation offers a compelling exploration of [[Extinction]]’s implications for life, [[ethics]], and political [[imagination]]. The term **archive** derives from the Latin word _archīvum_, which itself comes from the Greek word _archeion_ (ἀρχεῖον). Here’s a breakdown of its etymology: 1. **Greek Roots:** • _Archeion_ (ἀρχεῖον): Refers to a public office or a [[Government]] building where official records were stored in ancient Greece. • The root _archē_ (ἀρχή): Means “rule” or “[[Government]],” and it is associated with authority or the beginning of something. This ties the term to the function of preserving authoritative documents related to governance and law. 2. **Latin Adaptation:** • The Romans adopted the Greek term as _archīvum_, applying it similarly to official records and repositories for legal or governmental documentation. 3. **Medieval Use and Old French Influence:** • In Medieval Latin, _archīvum_ retained its [[Meaning]] of a record or a place for records, eventually influencing Old French as _archive_. • From Old French, the term entered Middle English in the 14th century, keeping its association with record-keeping and preservation. 4. **Modern Use:** • By the 17th century, the term evolved in English to refer both to the physical location where records are stored (e.g., an archive) and to the records themselves. Thus, the etymology of “archive” reflects its origins as a concept tied to governance and authority, emphasizing the role of official records in maintaining societal order and continuity. The scene you're referring to from *Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones* involves **Jocasta Nu**, the Jedi Archivist, who confidently states, **"If an item does not appear in our records, it does not exist."** This moment is often cited as a fascinating commentary on the nature of archives, knowledge, and institutional authority. Here's what it reveals about the concept of archives: ### 1. **The Illusion of Completeness** Jocasta Nu's statement reflects a common assumption about archives: that they are comprehensive and infallible repositories of knowledge. However, archives are inherently limited by what has been collected, preserved, and deemed worthy of inclusion. Her assertion highlights the danger of assuming that an archive contains *all* knowledge, as it overlooks gaps, biases, and the possibility of lost or excluded information. ### 2. **Institutional Arrogance** The Jedi Order, as an institution, is portrayed as highly confident in its own systems and records. Jocasta Nu's certainty underscores the arrogance of institutions that believe their knowledge is absolute. This moment foreshadows the Jedi's downfall, as their overreliance on their own systems blinds them to the rising threat of the Sith and the manipulation happening right under their noses. ### 3. **The Limits of Recorded Knowledge** The scene also emphasizes the limitations of recorded knowledge. The planet **Kamino**, which Obi-Wan Kenobi is searching for, *does* exist—it has simply been erased from the Jedi Archives. This illustrates how archives can be manipulated or incomplete, whether through intentional erasure (as in the case of Kamino) or oversight. It serves as a reminder that archives are not neutral; they are shaped by the decisions of those who curate them. ### 4. **The Danger of Overreliance on Archives** Jocasta Nu's unwavering faith in the archives reflects a broader theme in *Star Wars*: the danger of relying too heavily on established systems and traditions. The Jedi's rigid adherence to their own rules and records ultimately contributes to their inability to adapt to changing circumstances. This moment subtly critiques the idea that knowledge is static and can be fully contained within an archive. ### 5. **Archives as Power** Archives are not just repositories of knowledge—they are also tools of power. By controlling what is recorded and preserved, institutions like the Jedi Order wield significant influence over what is considered "real" or "important." Jocasta Nu's statement underscores the authority that comes with being the gatekeeper of knowledge, as well as the potential for that authority to be misused or challenged. ### Conclusion The scene with Jocasta Nu and the Jedi Archives is a rich commentary on the nature of archives and knowledge. It highlights the limitations, biases, and potential arrogance inherent in any system that claims to be a definitive source of truth. In the context of *Star Wars*, it also serves as a metaphor for the Jedi's broader failings, as their reliance on tradition and recorded knowledge blinds them to the realities of the galaxy around them. Ultimately, the scene reminds us that archives are not infallible—they are human (or in this case, Jedi) constructs, shaped by the choices and limitations of their creators. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`