The online forum as a digital space of curation

This paper focus on the concept of curation that emphasizes intermediary processes sorting and filtering theinformation overload that characterize contemporary digitalized society. The paper has two overall aims. Thefirst aim is theoretical and the ambition is to identify practices and processes distinctive to curation in digitalspaces. From this literature the paper argues that contemporary digital curation is characterized by (a) digitallyproduced and mediated processes, (b) de-professionalization, (c) a combination of productive and consumptivemodes, (d) space as a ‘quality stamp’, and (e) an increasingly underlying and/or everyday practice. The secondaim is empirical and, through a case study of an online forum dedicated to hi-fi and high-end audio equipment,the ambition is to identify curatorial practices and processes taking place at the forum and to understand how theonline forum functions as a curatorial space. More specifically, in the analysis of the empirical material threethemes are highlighted. First, personal consumer experiences are expressed through narrated purchases in whichthe constant pursuit of the ‘perfect audio reproduction system’ is materialized as these narratives involve withthe explanations and motivations behind personal reflections and experiences of purchase decisions. Second, theonline forum has clear power structures. Third, the online forum deals with geographical dimensions in severalways, e.g. by functioning as a space for legitimization where the lack of distance and the use of (partially)anonymous profiles generate both advantageous and disadvantageous dimensions