Making Faces: Information Does Not Exist

In this article we attempt three things. First, to show that common conceptions and usages of the term 'information' are misleading; they lead to particular misunderstandings and misdirections, particularly amongst those disciplines and practices which locate information at their core. Second, to describe a conceptual framework which helps explain why information as conventionally conceived does not exist; instead information is better considered an accomplishment with forma in pursuit of performa. Third, to demonstrate how such a conception of information leads to a re-conceptualization of both information systems and information technology and offers a more profound basis for developing trans-disciplinary understanding across the information disciplines. To help ground our discussion, we utilize a nonstandard case―that of human emotive facial expression. We show how an unpacking of this basic form of face-to-face communication supports our re-conceptualization of information.