The interrelation of archival, database, metanarrative and indexical elements serves to produce a site richly incorporating as many functions as possible. The knowledge McAdams wishes to impart is imbued in each page so there is no distinct compartmentalisation of zones of knowledge. These zones are characterised into official sources, scholarly interpretation, enthusiast responses all connected by the response of McAdams’ commentary.

Upon first examination of McAdams’ site, I felt the function was primarily iterative. I reached this conclusion as the majority of pages I browsed referenced and made available established disciplinary materials and approaches whether they are electronic or print based. However, my initial judgement mistook referencing for consensus and The Kennedy Assassination Homepage is actually a hybrid of iterative and interrogative methodologies. McAdams questions conspiracy theorists, their aptitude and expositions and is interrogative in pursuing the “debunking” of conspiracist paranoia.

The role of user in the construction of knowledge is secondary to the role conspiracy theorists hold in McAdams’ opinion. The plethora of theories obscures the truth of the Kennedy assassination and therefore the user’s construction of knowledge is formed on these misguided (according to McAdams) foundations. Ultimately the user’s role in constructing knowledge is a collaborative effort with those who would “debunk” the truth. McAdams holds the unusual view that knowledge making can be counter productive to the “cause of truth in the assassination.” The Kennedy Assassination Homepage does not utilise strategies as a structuring element. In overview, McAdams dramatises knowledge making and the discovery of misinformation and disinformation to heighten this opinion of the function he serves.

[ Introduction I Type of Site I Coverage I Authority I Organisation I Design I Orientation I Mobility I Primary I Interpretive I Knowledge Construct I Rhetorical I Writable I Overview ]