Derived from the Latin "forensis," the word forensics refers to the
"forum" and designates the practice of making an argument by using
objects before a professional, political or legal gathering. Cabinet
issue 43, with a special section on "Forensics" edited by Eyal Weizman,
features Weizman on the changing role of forensics following the
discovery of the body of Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele; Lawrence
abu-Hamdan on the use by the British police of minute shifts in
electrical signatures to precisely date recorded phone conversations; an
interview with legendary forensic anthropologist Clyde Snow; and artist
projects by Hito Steyerl and Fareed Armaly. Elsewhere in the issue:
Rachel Berwick on "zugunrühe," a term coined in the 1950s to describe
the phenomenon of nighttime restlessness of birds about to migrate; D.
Graham Burnett and Sal Randolph's guide to identifying paper shredder
patterns in order to reassemble destroyed documents; an artist project
by Amie Siegel; and much more.
