The practice of vandalism in the collaborative writing process of the Wikipedia entry “Simone de Beauvoir”

ABSTRACT:

This paper aims to discuss the results of a research on the ways in which the practice of vandalism can impact on the process of production of a Wikipedia entry through collaborative writing practices. To do so, we base upon the notions of Web 2.0 and collaborative writing practices to analyze the editions of the Wikipedia entry “Simone de Beauvoir”, which, due to a question of the Brazilian National High School exam (ENEM) that made use of a statement from the philosopher, became a constant target of vandalism. As a result of this paper, one notes that the production process of the Wikipedia entry “Simone de Beauvoir” is constituted in the perspective of the new literacies, a broad and diffuse set of people, interests, intelligences and techniques that promotes the collective writing project of Wikipedia.

Keywords:
Vandalism; Wikipedia; Web 2.0; New ethos; Collaborative writing practices