Making Difference

This chapter elaborates the historical and conceptual framework of Difference, Sameness and DNA, which is based in the concept of differentiating, or difference making, which I describe as an epistemic imperative. Epistemic characteristics are often difficult to recognize because they permeate our disciplines, our languages and our social realities. This chapter focuses on the emergence of racial categories alongside varied techno-sciences of human difference and individuation, concluding with molecular and genomic technologies, such as DNA fingerprinting. Arguments in this chapter are reengaged in subsequent chapters of the book, which discuss my artworks directly.