Object Agency in Literature & Literary Theory

Object Agency: Etymology/Term, Meanings and Concept

Etymology/Term:

The term “object agency” stems from the fusion of “object,” denoting a tangible or abstract entity, and “agency,” which implies the capacity to act or exert power. Coined within the realms of philosophy, sociology, and anthropology, “object agency” encapsulates the idea that objects, beyond being passive entities, possess a certain degree of influence, agency, or intentionality in shaping human behavior and social dynamics.

Meanings and Concept:

• Material Influence: Object agency suggests that material entities, whether artifacts, technologies, or cultural symbols, actively impact human actions and societal structures.
• Intentionality of Objects: Objects are ascribed a form of intentionality, implying that they can play a role in decision-making processes or influence human choices.
• Symbolic Significance: Beyond their utilitarian function, objects often hold symbolic meanings and cultural significance that contribute to their agency in shaping beliefs and practices.
• Technological Determinism: In technological contexts, object agency reflects the idea that technologies, as objects, can drive societal change and shape the course of human history.
• Human-Object Relationships: Object agency involves exploring the reciprocal relationships between humans and objects, acknowledging that these relationships are dynamic and can influence each other.

Object Agency: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Object agency is a theoretical concept that posits the active influence and intentionality of objects in shaping human behavior and societal dynamics. It suggests that beyond their passive roles, objects, whether material artifacts or cultural symbols, possess a certain degree of agency in influencing decision-making processes and cultural practices. The concept explores the dynamic relationships between humans and objects, emphasizing the reciprocal impact they have on each other in various social, cultural, and technological contexts.

Object Agency: Theorists, Works and Arguments

Theorists:

1. Bruno Latour: In works such as “Actor-Network Theory” and “Reassembling the Social,” Latour emphasizes the agency of both human and non-human actors, arguing that objects play a crucial role in shaping social interactions and networks.
2. Ian Hodder: Known for his archaeological contributions, Hodder explores the agency of material culture in shaping human behavior. His work, including “Entangled: An Archaeology of the Relationships between Humans and Things,” delves into the interconnectedness of humans and objects.
3. Arjun Appadurai: In “The Social Life of Things: Commodities in Cultural Perspective,” Appadurai examines the social lives of objects, highlighting their agency in cultural processes such as exchange, value creation, and the construction of meaning.

Works:

1. “Actor-Network Theory” by Bruno Latour (1996): Latour’s influential work introduces the concept of non-human actors having agency and emphasizes the dynamic relationships between humans and objects in shaping social networks.
2. “Entangled: An Archaeology of the Relationships between Humans and Things” by Ian Hodder (2012): Hodder’s book explores the agency of material culture in archaeological contexts, offering insights into the ways objects participate in shaping human societies.
3. “The Social Life of Things: Commodities in Cultural Perspective” by Arjun Appadurai (1986): Appadurai’s work delves into the agency of commodities, examining how objects mediate social relationships, cultural exchange, and the construction of value within different societies.

Arguments:

1. Mediation and Translation: Latour argues that objects act as mediators and translators in social interactions, influencing the formation and maintenance of networks and relationships.
2. Material Engagement: Hodder’s argument emphasizes the material engagement of humans with objects, suggesting that the agency of objects is not merely symbolic but involves practical and embodied interactions.
3. Commodity Fetishism: Appadurai discusses how commodities, as objects, can possess a fetishistic agency, shaping economic and social relations and influencing cultural practices and identities.

Object Agency: Major Characteristics

1. Intentionality and Influence:
   • Objects are ascribed a form of intentionality, suggesting that they possess the capacity to influence human actions, decisions, and social dynamics.
2. Material Significance:
   • Object agency emphasizes the materiality of objects, acknowledging that their physical attributes and characteristics contribute to their influence on human behavior and cultural practices.
3. Symbolic and Cultural Significance:
   • Objects often hold symbolic meanings and cultural significance, playing a role in the construction of cultural identities, beliefs, and practices.
4. Dynamic Relationships:
   • The concept involves exploring the dynamic relationships between humans and objects, recognizing that these interactions are reciprocal and that objects actively contribute to shaping human experiences.
5. Technological Determinism:
   • In technological contexts, object agency aligns with the idea of technological determinism, suggesting that technologies, as objects, can drive societal change and shape the course of human history.
6. Mediation and Translation:
   • Objects act as mediators and translators in social interactions, facilitating the formation and maintenance of networks and relationships, as proposed by Bruno Latour’s Actor-Network Theory.
7. Material Engagement:
   • It, as discussed by Ian Hodder, involves the material engagement of humans with objects, emphasizing practical and embodied interactions that go beyond symbolic meanings.
8. Commodity Fetishism:
   • Arjun Appadurai’s perspective introduces the concept of commodity fetishism, highlighting how objects, particularly commodities, can possess a fetishistic agency, influencing economic and social relations.
9. Entanglement:
   • The term “entanglement” is often associated with object agency, signifying the complex and intertwined relationships between humans and objects, as explored in Ian Hodder’s work.
10. Networked Perspectives:
11. Object agency aligns with networked perspectives, acknowledging that objects participate in and contribute to social networks and systems, influencing the overall dynamics of these networks.

Object Agency: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Object Agency
Postmodernism	Object agency aligns with postmodern perspectives that challenge traditional hierarchies and emphasize the significance of everyday objects in shaping cultural narratives and identities.
Feminist Literary Theory	In feminist literary theory, object agency is relevant for analyzing how objects, often associated with gender roles or domesticity, actively contribute to the construction of gendered identities and power dynamics.
Ecocriticism	Object agency is significant in ecocritical approaches, exploring how non-human entities, including objects, participate in environmental narratives and contribute to the portrayal of human-nature relationships.
New Materialism	Object agency aligns with new materialist perspectives that emphasize the active role of material entities, including objects, in shaping social, cultural, and literary phenomena.
Cultural Studies	Cultural studies benefit from object agency by examining the cultural significance of objects, their roles in symbolic representation, and their influence on cultural practices and expressions.
Postcolonial Theory	Object agency is relevant in postcolonial literary theories, especially in analyzing how objects contribute to the representation of colonial histories, cultural hybridity, and resistance to imperial narratives.
Marxist Literary Theory	In Marxist literary theory, object agency is explored concerning the commodification of objects and their role in shaping economic relationships, social classes, and power structures within literary works.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Object agency can be relevant in psychoanalytic theories, examining how objects function as symbols in the unconscious, influencing characters’ desires, fears, and psychological landscapes within literary narratives.
Narratology	In narratology, object agency contributes to the analysis of narrative structures, exploring how objects serve as narrative agents, influencing plot development, character interactions, and thematic elements.
Critical Race Theory	Object agency is pertinent in critical race theory for examining the representation of objects within racial contexts, exploring how objects contribute to racialized narratives, cultural stereotypes, and power relations.

Object Agency: Application in Critiques

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
   • The green light at the end of Daisy’s dock serves as an object with agency, symbolizing Gatsby’s aspirations and the American Dream. Analyzing the object’s influence on characters’ actions allows for a nuanced critique of societal values and individual pursuits.
2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley:
   • Dr. Frankenstein’s creation, the monster, embodies object agency as it actively shapes the narrative through its interactions with humans. Examining the materiality of the creature and its impact on the story offers insights into Shelley’s exploration of scientific and ethical consequences.
3. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman:
   • The wallpaper in the protagonist’s room gains agency as it becomes a symbolic entity influencing her mental state. Critiquing the object’s role allows for an exploration of the societal constraints on women’s autonomy and the psychological effects of confinement.
4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley:
   • The use of soma, a mood-altering drug in the novel, represents an object with agency in shaping the characters’ behaviors and societal norms. Analyzing the influence of soma allows for a critique of the dystopian society’s reliance on objects to control individual autonomy and emotions.

Object Agency: Relevant Terms

Term	Definition
Material Agency	Capacity of material entities, including objects, to actively influence human actions and societies.
Thing Power	Coined by Jane Bennett, emphasizes the vital force and agency in non-human entities.
Actant	Entity within Actor-Network Theory with the capacity to act and influence others in a network.
Assemblage Agency	Perspective viewing agency as emerging from relationships within complex assemblages.
Non-Human Agency	Explores intentional and influential aspects of non-human entities in shaping human experiences.
Objecthood	Examines the status and agency of objects within cultural, philosophical, and social contexts.
Thing Theory	Interdisciplinary approach studying relationships between humans and things, exploring object agency.
Actor-Network Theory	Proposes both human and non-human entities, including objects, have agency in shaping social structures.
Vibrant Matter	Coined by Jane Bennett, refers to the lively capacities of non-human entities in various contexts.
Object-Oriented Ontology	Philosophical perspective asserting the equal ontological status of all entities, attributing inherent agency to objects.

Object Agency: Suggested Readings

1. Bennett, Jane. Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things. Duke University Press, 2010.
2. Harman, Graham. Object-Oriented Ontology: A New Theory of Everything. Pelican, 2018.
3. Hodder, Ian. Entangled: An Archaeology of the Relationships between Humans and Things. Wiley, 2012.
4. Latour, Bruno. Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford University Press, 2005.
5. Miller, Daniel. Stuff. Polity Press, 2010.
6. Shaviro, Steven. The Universe of Things: On Speculative Realism. University of Minnesota Press, 2014.
7. Turkle, Sherry. Evocative Objects: Things We Think With. MIT Press, 2007.
8. Vermeulen, Timotheus, and Robin van den Akker. Notes on Metamodernism. Journal of Aesthetics & Culture, 2010.