So this week's topic is on assemblage. I just wanted to recall what I learnt on the readings a bit. So this thing called assemblage is about systems, and how there are a number of nodes that make up the system. Each node is equally important and should be processed individually since these nodes could be extracted and placed in other systems. The actor-network theory claims that these nodes could be both conceptual in nature or physical much like the example of a school's education system is both run by physical nodes such as white boards, textbooks and teachings on science and maths. I don't really understand the idea of non-human actors because there will always be a need for human actors to make sense of systems.
Closer distinctions between identified by Lauren, a student doing the course suggests that a key difference between the actor network theory and a new philosophy of society is that the latter focuses more on key actors. It makes sense considering how there are always more dominant nodes in any theory compared to other nodes. (Lauren2090 2012).
I feel that this is an extension to something I learnt in year one about centralized and de centralized systems. For example the reason why Sydney's train transportation infrastructure is so awful is because of how all stations are centralised at the Central CBD district. On the other hand, places like Japan have a de-centralized train system which allows people to have options to get to their destinations.
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| More ridiculous version of stone paper scissors, air, devil, water . This is the ideal version of an actor network theory. Equal nodes. |
Considering how large the city rail map covers it's interesting to apply the theory of de-territoralisation and territoralisation. It shows the reach of the city rail in New South Wales but areas also invisible on the map. Wouldn't it be amazing if the University had its own station?
Lauren2090 2012, Assemblages Are Right Under Our Noises, Wordpress, accessed 14 May 2012,
<http://publishinginthepublic.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/assemblages-are-right-under-our-noises/>
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