What is the cat silent about in catolgy? - briefly
The cat remains silent about its true nature and history within the context of catalogs. This enigmatic silence underscores the mysterious allure that cats have long held over humans.
What is the cat silent about in catolgy? - in detail
The silence of the cat in cataloging refers to the practice of not assigning a specific classification or subject heading to a work solely because it features or mentions a cat. This approach is based on the principle that the presence of a cat, as a common and often incidental element, does not necessarily provide meaningful information about the work's content, theme, or intended audience.
In library science and information studies, cataloging aims to describe and organize resources in a way that facilitates their retrieval and use. When deciding whether to include an animal, such as a cat, in a subject heading or classification scheme, catalogers consider the relevance and significance of the animal to the work's overall content. If the cat is merely a peripheral element, serving no particular role in driving the plot, conveying a theme, or contributing to the work's main ideas, it may be deemed insignificant for cataloging purposes.
For example, if a novel primarily focuses on human relationships and personal growth, with a cat appearing only occasionally as a background detail, the presence of the cat does not warrant specific subject headings related to cats. Instead, the work would be classified based on its primary themes or genres, such as "Fiction" or "Romance," ensuring that users can find it by searching for relevant topics rather than incidental elements like the appearance of a cat.
However, if the cat plays a central role in the narrative—as a symbol, a main character, or a driving force behind the plot—it would be appropriate to include subject headings related to cats. This ensures that users interested in works featuring cats can discover and access relevant resources effectively.
In summary, the silence of the cat in cataloging reflects a considered approach that prioritizes the significance and relevance of elements within a work. By not assigning subject headings to incidental mentions of cats, catalogers ensure that users can find and retrieve resources based on their most relevant and meaningful attributes.