OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Subject access to cultural objects
A review of challenges and opportunities
Jonathan Furner
Assistant Editor, DDC
OCLC
ALA/ALCTS :: June 25, 2005
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Vase of Flowers
Jan van Huysum
(Dutch, 1682-1749)
1722
oil on panel
79.4 x 60.9cm
J. Paul Getty Museum
(Los Angeles, CA)
©2004 J. Paul Getty
Trust
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Description: Still life of drooping flowers
spilling onto a ledge, some decaying
and being eaten by insects;
represents the senses of sight and
smell; the decay and broken stems
symbolize the transient nature of life,
youth, and beauty; the ledge pushed
up to the picture plane resembles the
ledge seen in posthumous portraits,
thus symbolizing death. The crown of
thorns flower at the top symbolizes
the Passion of Christ.
Subject--Description: still life;
Pronkstilleven; botanical; flowers;
crown of thorns plant; cyclamen;
hyacinth; lilies; narcissus; peonies;
primrose; tulips; roses; sweetpeas;
violet; insects; caterpillar; bird’s nest;
eggs; urn; ledge
Subject--Interpretation: senses;
smell; beauty; life; transience;
Vanitas; Passion of Christ
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Untitled Rayograph
(Light Patterns)
Man Ray
(American, 1890-1976,
died in France)
1927
gelatin silver print
25.15 x 29.97cm
J. Paul Getty Museum
(Los Angeles, CA)
©2004 J. Paul Getty
Trust
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Description: The objects used by
Man Ray to create this image
are not apparent; the rapid
alternation of light and dark on
the page stimulates the eye;
the stippled spots of black
interact with the texture of the
paper to activate the surface
of the print and suggest
positive and negative space.
Subject--Description: nonrepresentational; light; light
and dark; texture; spots
Subject--Interpretation:
positive and negative space
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Lincoln on the
Battlefield of
Antietam, Maryland,
October 2, 1862
Alexander Gardner
(American, 1821-1882)
1862
albumen print
21.8 x 19.7cm
J. Paul Getty Museum (Los
Angeles, CA)
©2004 J. Paul Getty Trust
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Description: President Abraham
Lincoln on the Antietam
battlefield, with Major Allan
Pinkerton, chief of the Secret
Service, and Major John
McClernand.
Subject--Description: portraits;
history/legend; war; army
camp; soldier; officer;
president; tent; campstool;
stovepipe hat
Subject--Identification:
Antietam Battlefield
(Sharpsburg, Maryland); Battle
of Antietam (American Civil
War); Union army; Abraham
Lincoln (American president,
1809-1865); Allan Pinkerton
(American Secret Service
agent, detective, 1819-1884);
John McClernand (American
Union General, 1812-1900)
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Cataloguing Cultural Objects
as a tool for subject cataloguers
Aims
 practical guidance for subject
cataloguers, indexers
 intra- and inter-indexer consistency
 user–indexer consistency
 retrieval effectiveness
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Cataloguing Cultural Objects
as a tool for subject cataloguers
Challenges
1.
what does “subject” mean? -- i.e., what kinds of property
of works should be indexed?
2.
what kinds of method should be used to determine the
subject(s) of works, and ...
3.
... to select terms that represent those subjects?
4.
what kinds of control should be imposed on the lists of terms
from which selection is made, and how should such
authority control be implemented?
5.
what metadata elements should be established for
recording subject data?
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Cataloguing Cultural Objects
as a tool for subject cataloguers
Predecessors

art-historical theories of iconography/iconology:
 Panofsky, van de Waal, van Straten

information-scientific theories of subject indexing:
 Layne, Markey, Svenonius

data value standards:
 AAT, TGM, ICONCLASS

data structure standards:
 CDWA, VRA Core
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
1. Kinds of subject
Subjects, objects, images, texts
 subjects: e.g., people, things, events, places, concepts
 objects (works) [in museums, archives]: e.g.,
artworks, buildings, artifacts, documents, collections
 descriptive cataloguing: what the objects are
 subject cataloguing: what subjects the objects are of /
about
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
1. Kinds of subject,
cont’d
 images [in visual resource collections]: visual
representations of objects, e.g., photographs, slides,
digital files
 descriptive cataloguing: what the images are; what objects
the images are of
 subject cataloguing: what subjects the images are about
 texts [in libraries]: verbal representations of objects,
e.g., books, journal articles
 descriptive cataloguing: what the texts are
 subject cataloguing: what objects the texts are about;
what subjects the texts are about
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
1. Kinds of subject,
cont’d
Representation

representational (figurative) works
 narrative subjects
 stories
 episodes in stories, i.e., events
 non-narrative subjects
 people, animals, plants
 objects, e.g., buildings
 activities; places; periods
 [work types: portraits, still lifes, landscapes, genre scenes,
architectural drawings ...]
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
1. Kinds of subject,
cont’d
 non-representational works
 abstract works
 buildings
 furniture
 decorative arts
 “subject” / content =
 meaning (symbolic, allegorical, thematic, conceptual)
 form, composition
 function, purpose, use
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
1. Kinds of subject,
cont’d
Panofsky’s theory of iconography
 3 layers of meaning = 3 layers of iconographical research:
1. pre-iconographical description
• description of primary (natural) subject-matter
• knowledge required:
 (i) of objects/events
 (ii) of history of style: i.e., how objects/events are expressed
by certain forms at certain times
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
1. Kinds of subject,
2.
3.
cont’d
iconographical analysis
•
analysis of secondary (conventional) subject-matter
•
knowledge required:

(i) of literary sources of themes/concepts

(ii) of history of types: i.e., how themes/concepts are
expressed by certain objects/events at certain times
iconological interpretation
•
interpretation of intrinsic meaning
•
knowledge required:

(i) “synthetic intuition” of the “essential tendencies” of
human mind

(ii) of history of symbols: i.e., how “essential tendencies” are
expressed by certain themes/concepts at certain times
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
1. Kinds of subject,
cont’d
Ofness and aboutness

what is the work of?

generically: description


specifically: identification


e.g., “Nude standing woman seen from front, holding dagger
in right hand”
e.g., “The suicide of Lucretia”
what is the work about?

interpretation

e.g., “virtuousness”
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
CCO recommendation #1
 subject data should be consistently given
for all works, not just for representational
ones
 (even if those data end up overlapping with the
content of other elements, e.g. Work Type)
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
2. Subject analysis
Ofness
 who? what? where? when?
 people, objects/activities, places, times
 generic to specific
 left to right; top to bottom; foreground to
background ...
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
2. Subject analysis,
cont’d
Aboutness
 what is the meaning of the work?
 what is expressed by the work?
 what do the objects, events, etc., depicted in the work
symbolize?
 how may the image be interpreted?
 what was the intention of the work’s creator?
 how has the work been interpreted historically?
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
CCO recommendation #2
 take a methodical approach to subject
analysis
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
3. Term selection
What kinds of terms? How many terms?
 factors that can’t help but affect the specificity of
indexing:
 quality and quantity of available scholarly information
about the work
 extent of indexer’s knowledge of the work
 extent of indexer’s general pre-iconographic knowledge
 depth of indexer’s indexing expertise
 availability of time; money; human resources; technology
at institution’s disposal
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
3. Term selection,
cont’d
 factors that should also affect the specificity of indexing
 needs of end-users: expert and non-expert
 characteristics of the collection
 relative importance of the work
 presence of unusual details in the work
 institutional policies
 number of terms to be assigned per work
 method of subject analysis to be used
 capabilities of system
 e.g., to link NTs to BTs, preferred terms to synonyms and RTs,
etc.
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
CCO recommendation #3a
 don’t be specific without the support of
scholarly evidence
 better to be general and accurate than specific and
wrong
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
CCO recommendation #3b
 use subject terms that have been
identified as “preferred” in established
authority files (controlled vocabularies)
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
4. Authority control
Four kinds of authority file
 Personal and Corporate Body Authority
 preferred forms of names of real people/bodies (as artists,
patrons, subjects of works)
 Geographic Place Authority
 preferred forms of names of real places
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
4. Authority control,
cont’d
 Concept Authority
 preferred forms of genre terms
 e.g. “still life,” “landscape”
 preferred forms of generic subject terms
 objects, materials, activities, agents, properties, styles,
periods treated as subjects
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
4. Authority control,
cont’d
 Subject Authority
 preferred forms of iconographical terms
 proper names, uniform titles, standard labels ...
 ... of characters, situations, events, themes, works
(e.g., buildings) ...
 ... in historical, mythological, religious, literary contexts
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
4. Authority control,


cont’d
cf. AAT: Art & Architecture Thesaurus

terms for describing what objects / images are

project began 1980; funded by CLR, NEH, Mellon, then Getty from
1985; sponsored by ARLIS, CAA, SAH, etc.

current: version 3.0-Web, at
http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/vocabularies/aat/
cf. ICONCLASS: Iconographic Classification System

terms for describing what objects / images are of / about

1949: van de Waal (U. Leiden) began to develop ideas that led to
ICONCLASS

1973-85: published in 17 vols.

ICONCLASS Libertas Browser (KNAW, Amsterdam): web-accessible
version, at http://www.iconclass.nl/
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
4. Authority control,
cont’d
Kinds of source of terminology
for local authority files
 distinguished by structure:
 hierarchical vs. non-hierarchical
 by object type:
 subjects vs. people/places
 by scope:
 domain-specific vs. interdisciplinary
 by purpose:
 authority control vs. end-user reference
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
CCO recommendation #4
 link the occurrences of subject terms in
work records to the authority records for
those terms
 (in authority files that implement synonym control
and hierarchical structure)
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
5. Record structure
Metadata element sets

cf. CDWA: Categories for the Description of Works of Art
 ed. Baca, Harpring
 funded by Getty, NEH, CAA
 2000: version 2.0; on web at
http://www.getty.edu/research/conducting_research/standards/cd
wa/

cf. VRA Core Categories
 ed. Lanzi, Whiteside
 2002: version 3.0; on web at
http://www.vraweb.org/vracore3.htm
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Challenges
5. Record structure,
cont’d
Subject metadata elements recommended by CCO

Description [free-text; non-repeatable]

Subject [required; controlled; repeatable]

Extent
 for designating the part of the work to which the subject
terms are applicable

Subject Type
 for distinguishing between description, identification,
interpretation
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
CCO recommendation #5
 implement separate subject elements for
display and for retrieval
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Statue of Hercules
(Lansdowne Herakles)
Unknown Roman
sculptor; after the School
of Polykleitos
about 125 CE
marble
height: 193.5cm
J. Paul Getty Museum (Los
Angeles, CA)
©2004 J. Paul Getty Trust.
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Description: Herakles standing in
contrapposto, holding his
attributes, the skin of the
Nemean lion and a club. This
statue was found in Tivoli ca.
1790, in the ruins of Hadrian’s
villa; it was in the collection of
the Marquess of Lansdowne until
1951. It is related in appearance
to works attributed to 4thcentury BCE Greek sculptors;
however, the work has an
eclectic style that is purely
Roman.
Subject--Description:
religion/mythology; human
figure; male; nude; lion skin;
club
Subject--Identification: Hercules
(Greek/Roman hero); Nemean
Lion
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Example of a Subject Authority record
Subject Names: Hercules (preferred); Herakles; Heracles; Ercole;
Hercule; Hércules
Hierarchical Position: Classical mythology--Greek heroic legends-Story of Hercules--Hercules
Indexing Terms: Greek hero; king; strength; fortitude; perseverance;
Argos; Thebes
Note: Probably based on an actual historical figure, a king of ancient
Argos. The legendary figure was the son of Zeus and Alcmene ...
Related Subjects: Labors of Hercules; Love Affairs of Hercules; Zeus
(Greek god); Alcmene (Greek heroine); Hera (Greek goddess)
Dates: Story developed in Argos, but was taken over at early date by
Thebes; literary sources are late, though earlier texts may be
surmised. Earliest: -1000 Latest: 9999
Sources: ICONCLASS http://www.iconclass.nl/; Grant, Michael and John
Hazel. Gods and Mortals in Classical Mythology. Springfield, MA: G & C
Merriam Company, 1973. Page: 212 ff.
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Opportunities
 integrity and longevity of data
 consistent, reliable access to data
 exchange, sharing, reuse of data
 interoperability of systems
 easy migration of data to new systems
 communication, cooperation, collaboration
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Some residual questions
 should indexers be expected to do iconographical
research to index aboutness?
 should cultural-historical questions about a work’s
unintended meanings be answered by indexers?
 how may future users’ needs be predicted?
 what role for general knowledge-organization schemes?
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
DDC Class 704.9 Iconography

for texts about the treatment of specific subjects in visual art
(and for collections of images of specific subjects)
704.942 Human figures
704.943 Nature and still life
704.944 Architectural subjects and cityscapes
704.946 Symbolism and allegory
704.947 Mythology and legend
704.948 Religion
704.949 Other specific subjects
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
DDC Class 704.9 Iconography,

cont’d
743.8 Drawing other subjects
 Add to base number 743.8 the numbers following 704.94 in
704.943–704.949 ...

743.9 Collections of drawings by subject (Iconography)
 Add to base number 743.9 the numbers following 704.94 in
704.942–704.949 ...

778.9 Photography of specific subjects
 Add to base number 778.9 the numbers following 704.94 in
704.942–704.949 ...

779 Photographs
 Add to base number 779 the numbers following 704.94 in
704.942–704.949 ...
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
DDC Table 3C.
Notation to Be Added Where Instructed [at] ... 700.4, 791.4 ...
 for texts about ...
700.4 Special topics in the arts
700.41 Arts displaying specific qualities of style, mood,
viewpoint
Add to base number 700.41 the numbers following —1 in
notation 11–18 from Table 3C ...
700.42–.48 Arts dealing with specific themes and subjects
Add to base number 700.4 the numbers following —3 in notation
32–38 from Table 3C ...
791.4 Motion pictures, radio, television
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
DDC Table 3C,
cont’d
Notation to Be Added Where Instructed [at] ... 700.4, 791.4 ...
—3 Arts ... dealing with specific themes and subjects
—32 Places
—33 Times
—35 Humanity
—36 Physical and natural phenomena
—37 The supernatural, mythological, legendary
—38 Philosophic and abstract themes
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
DDC Table 3C,
cont’d
Notation to Be Added Where Instructed [at] ... 700.4, 791.4 ...
—1 Arts ... displaying specific qualities of style, mood,
viewpoint
—11 Nontraditional viewpoints
—12 Realism and naturalism
—13 Idealism
—14 Classicism and romanticism
—15 Symbolism, allegory, fantasy, myth
—16 Tragedy and horror
—17 Comedy
—18 Irony
OCLC Online Computer Library Center
Thank You. Questions?
Jonathan Furner
furnerj@oclc.org
(202) 707-6983