Material Agency in Literature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Material Agency

The term “material agency” derives from the field of social and cultural theory and is rooted in the broader concept of “agency.” The word “agency” itself is derived from the Latin “agens,” which means “to act” or “to do.” In the context of material agency, the term signifies the capacity of material objects and artifacts to influence, shape, or mediate human actions and social interactions.

This concept challenges the conventional understanding of agency as solely residing within human individuals and highlights the active role that material culture, technology, and objects play in shaping human behavior, cultural practices, and societal structures.

Material agency underscores the dynamic and interactive relationship between people and the material world, emphasizing the mutual influence and co-shaping of both agents, ultimately impacting the way we understand culture, society, and the role of objects in our lives.

Meanings of Material Agency

Aspect	Meanings
Influence of Material Objects	Material agency refers to the significant impact that physical items, tools, and artifacts have on human behavior and decision-making. These objects can shape and mediate social practices and individual actions.
Active Role of Material Culture	It emphasizes that material culture, including technology, architecture, and objects, actively participates in shaping cultural norms, values, and practices, often beyond their initial design or intended purpose.
Mediating Human Interactions	Material agency underscores how objects and technology mediate and facilitate human interactions. They can serve as intermediaries that enable or constrain social relationships and communication.
Co-Shaping of Society	This concept recognizes that both humans and material objects co-shape one another and contribute to the formation of social structures and cultural practices. It challenges the notion of agency as solely a human attribute.
Impact on Identity and Meaning	Material agency extends to how objects can influence and contribute to the formation of individual and collective identities, as well as the meanings attributed to various aspects of culture and society.
Historical and Cultural Significance	The concept is essential in understanding the historical and cultural significance of objects and their role in shaping different societies and time periods.
Reinterpretation of Agency	Material agency reinterprets the traditional understanding of agency, emphasizing that it is not exclusive to human beings but involves a dynamic interplay between people and the material world.

Definition of Material Agency as a Theoretical Term

Material agency, as a theoretical term, refers to the capacity of physical objects, artifacts, and material culture to actively shape and influence human behavior, cultural practices, and social structures.

It emphasizes the dynamic interplay between humans and the material world, recognizing that objects can mediate, enable, or constrain social interactions and communication.

Material agency challenges the conventional notion of agency as solely residing within individuals and underscores the co-shaping of society by both human and non-human agents.

Material Agency: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorist	Works	Key Points about Material Agency
Bruno Latour	In his book Reassembling the Social, Latour explores the concept of actor-network theory, which emphasizes the agency of both human and non-human actors in shaping social processes.	Key Points: Latour argues that non-human entities, such as technology and material objects, are active agents in the construction of social realities and play a crucial role in the formation of networks and associations.
Donna Haraway	Haraway’s essay Cyborg Manifesto challenges traditional notions of individual agency and explores the idea of hybrid entities that blur the boundaries between human and non-human elements.	Key Points: Haraway argues that the cyborg, as a symbol of material agency, represents the fusion of human and machine, challenging conventional categories and offering new perspectives on identity and agency.
Michel Callon	Callon’s work in the field of science and technology studies, particularly his studies on performativity, explores how material objects and technologies actively shape and perform roles in social contexts.	Key Points: Callon’s research demonstrates that material objects, through their performativity, influence and co-construct social relationships and structures.
Actor-Network Theory (ANT)	Works: Actor-Network Theory, developed by Bruno Latour and Michel Callon, provides a framework for understanding the agency of both human and non-human actors in various social, scientific, and technological contexts.	Key Points: ANT posits that the agency of material objects is integral to the formation of networks and associations, challenging the idea of a clear distinction between subjects and objects.

Material Agency and Literary Theories

1. New Materialism:
   • New Materialism is a contemporary theoretical approach that emphasizes the active role of non-human entities, including material objects, in the construction of meaning in literature. It focuses on how objects and materiality impact the narrative and the characters’ experiences.
2. Ecocriticism:
   • In the field of ecocriticism, the agency of the natural environment and material aspects of nature are explored in literature. This includes how landscapes, ecosystems, and the environment influence characters and narrative themes.
3. Postcolonialism:
   • Postcolonial literature often explores how material culture and objects are intertwined with narratives of colonization and resistance. The agency of material objects is significant in conveying the effects of colonialism on indigenous cultures.
4. Cultural Studies:
   • Material culture is a key concept in cultural studies, where the analysis of everyday objects, consumer culture, and technology is relevant to understanding the cultural and social contexts in which literature is produced and consumed.
5. Marxist Criticism:
   • In Marxist literary theory, the role of economic and material factors in shaping characters and narrative is explored. Material objects, such as possessions and social class, can have a significant impact on character agency and plot development.
6. Feminist Theory:
   • Feminist literary theory often considers how material objects, such as clothing, domestic items, or technology, reflect and influence gender roles and identity in literature.
7. Modernism and Postmodernism:
   • In modernist and postmodernist literature, the manipulation of materiality and objects often plays a central role in challenging traditional narrative structures and exploring themes of alienation and consumerism.
8. Reader-Response Theory:
   • The reader’s interaction with the material text, including the physical book or digital interface, can shape the reading experience. Material aspects influence how readers engage with and interpret the text.

Material agency provides a lens through which to analyze the significance of objects, technology, and material culture in literature, enhancing our understanding of how they contribute to narrative development, character agency, and the creation of meaning within literary works.

Material Agency in Literary Criticism

Work	Material Agency Overview
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald	It is exemplified through the character of Jay Gatsby and his extravagant parties. Gatsby’s lavish parties, characterized by opulence and excess, reflect the materialism of the Roaring Twenties. These events shape the desires and ambitions of the characters, such as Daisy Buchanan and Tom Buchanan, illustrating how material objects symbolize the pursuit of the American Dream and contribute to both aspiration and tragedy.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley	Material agency is central to the character of Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his creation of the creature. Dr. Frankenstein’s act of crafting the creature from various body parts illustrates the power of human agency over material elements. The creature’s appearance and actions are deeply influenced by the materials used to construct him, highlighting the ethical and moral implications of material agency.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy	Material agency is prominent in the post-apocalyptic world where the characters, particularly the father and son, struggle for survival. Scarcity of material resources, such as food and clothing, significantly shapes the characters’ actions and decisions. Their journey illustrates how the absence and presence of material resources influence their relationships and their determination to endure in a harsh environment.
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde	Here it is portrayed through the portrait of Dorian Gray and its connection to Dorian’s immoral actions. The portrait, rather than Dorian himself, bears the consequences of his corrupt behavior. This material representation serves as a mirror reflecting the state of Dorian’s soul, emphasizing the tension between material and spiritual aspects of one’s identity.

These novels illustrate how it, represented through specific characters and events, plays a crucial role in shaping the desires, actions, and the overarching narratives. Material objects serve as powerful symbols of aspiration, morality, and survival, adding complexity to the exploration of human nature and societal contexts.

Suggested Readings

1. Bennett, Jane. Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things. Duke University Press, 2010.
2. Brown, Bill. A Sense of Things: The Object Matter of American Literature. University of Chicago Press, 2003.
3. Haraway, Donna. Staying with the Trouble: Making Kin in the Chthulucene. Duke University Press, 2016.
4. Ingold, Tim. Making: Anthropology, Archaeology, Art and Architecture. Routledge, 2013.
5. Latour, Bruno. Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford University Press, 2005.
6. Miller, Daniel. Stuff. Polity Press, 2010.
7. Serres, Michel. The Five Senses: A Philosophy of Mingled Bodies. Bloomsbury Academic, 2008.
8. Thacker, Eugene. In the Dust of This Planet: Horror of Philosophy Vol. 1. Zero Books, 2011.
9. Turkle, Sherry. Evocative Objects: Things We Think With. MIT Press, 2007.