Thing Theory in Literature

Thing Theory: Term/Etymology and Concept

Term/Etymology:

Thing theory, as a term, emerged in the late 20th century, primarily within the field of cultural studies. Its etymology draws from the German word “ding,” emphasizing the importance of objects or things in shaping human experiences and cultural phenomena. Coined by scholars like Bill Brown and Bruno Latour, thing theory challenges traditional perspectives that prioritize human subjects, inviting an exploration of the agency and significance inherent in everyday objects.

Concept:

• Object Agency: Thing theory suggests that objects have agency and can influence human behavior, challenging the notion of passive or inert things. It explores how objects participate in shaping social relationships and cultural practices.
• Material Culture: The concept delves into the study of material culture, emphasizing the significance of objects in understanding historical periods, societal values, and cultural shifts. Objects are seen as active participants in the construction of meaning.
• Object Biographies: Thing theorists examine the life stories or biographies of objects, tracing their journeys through various contexts and cultural settings. This approach highlights the dynamic nature of objects and their evolving meanings over time.
• Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO): Aligned with thing theory, object-oriented ontology posits that both living and non-living entities, including objects, possess equal ontological status. It challenges anthropocentrism and emphasizes the interconnectedness of all entities.
• Consumer Culture Critique: Thing theory offers a critical lens for analyzing consumer culture, exploring how objects contribute to identity formation and societal norms. It questions the commodification of objects and their role in reinforcing cultural values.

Thing theory, through its exploration of the agency and cultural significance of objects, has become a valuable framework for interdisciplinary studies, including literature, art, anthropology, and sociology.Bottom of Form

Thing Theory: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorists:

• Bill Brown: Explores the agency and influence of objects in literature, emphasizing how they shape narrative and cultural meanings in A Sense of Things: The Object Matter of American Literature.
• Bruno Latour: Introduces Actor-Network-Theory, highlighting the agency of both human and non-human actors, including objects, in shaping social networks in Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory.
• Ian Bogost: Advocates for a speculative approach to studying things, encouraging scholars to consider the perspective of objects themselves and their role in shaping human experience in Alien Phenomenology, or What It’s Like to Be a Thing.
• Jane Bennett: Explores the political implications of thing power, arguing that objects have political agency and can influence social and ecological systems in Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things.
• Timothy Morton: Discusses object-oriented ontology and the interconnectedness of all entities, challenging anthropocentrism and emphasizing the equal ontological status of living and non-living entities in Realist Magic: Objects, Ontology, Causality.

Works:

• A Sense of Things: The Object Matter of American Literature by Bill Brown.
• Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory by Bruno Latour.
• Alien Phenomenology, or What It’s Like to Be a Thing by Ian Bogost.
• Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things by Jane Bennett.
• Realist Magic: Objects, Ontology, Causality by Timothy Morton.

Arguments:

• Brown’s work emphasizes how objects in literature possess agency and shape narrative and cultural meanings.
• Latour introduces Actor-Network-Theory, emphasizing the agency of both human and non-human actors, including objects, in shaping social networks.
• Bogost advocates for a speculative approach, encouraging scholars to consider the perspective of objects themselves in shaping human experience.
• Bennett explores the political implications of thing power, arguing that objects have political agency.
• Morton discusses object-oriented ontology, challenging anthropocentrism and emphasizing the equal ontological status of all entities.

Thing Theory: Key Principals

Key Principles of Thing Theory	Literary Examples
1. Object Agency: Objects possess agency and influence human behavior.	In Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, the gypsy’s magnetized alchemy tools influence the characters’ destinies, demonstrating the agency of objects.
2. Material Culture Significance: Objects play a crucial role in understanding historical periods, societal values, and cultural shifts.	In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the entailment of the Bennet family estate symbolizes the material culture of inheritance and societal expectations.
3. Object Biographies: Objects have life stories, evolving in meaning and significance over time.	Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse explores the changing meaning of the lighthouse as it becomes a symbol of memory and loss for the characters.
4. Consumer Culture Critique: Objects contribute to identity formation and societal norms, warranting a critical analysis of consumer culture.	Don DeLillo’s White Noise critiques consumerism, portraying characters immersed in a world saturated with commodified objects and brand symbolism.
5. Thing Power: Objects have a certain power and influence, affecting social and ecological systems.	In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, the magical objects like the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone possess significant power, impacting the characters and the wizarding world.
6. Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO): Objects, both living and non-living, share equal ontological status.	In Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore, the protagonist interacts with both animate and inanimate objects, blurring the boundaries between the ontological status of living and non-living entities.

These key principles and literary examples illustrate how Thing Theory provides a lens for understanding the dynamic relationship between humans and objects in literature.

Thing Theory: Critiques of Literary Works

1. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez:

• Critique: While the novel brilliantly explores the agency of objects through magical realism, some critics argue that the overwhelming emphasis on the magical and fantastical elements may overshadow the deeper exploration of the characters’ relationships with the objects. The intricate symbolism of objects might be perceived as diverting attention from more conventional character development.

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:

• Critique: In this classic novel, the material culture’s significance is richly portrayed, but critics contend that the narrative’s focus on societal expectations and manners might overshadow a more direct examination of individual objects. Some argue that the novel’s primary strength lies in its social commentary rather than a nuanced exploration of the agency of specific objects.

3. White Noise by Don DeLillo:

• Critique: While the novel effectively critiques consumer culture and the impact of commodified objects on identity, some critics argue that the characters’ detachment from the objects may limit the depth of the exploration. The satirical tone of the novel might be seen as distancing readers from a more profound engagement with the emotional and psychological implications of the objects.

4. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf:

• Critique: Despite the novel’s insightful exploration of object biographies and the changing meanings of objects, critics contend that Woolf’s stream-of-consciousness style may make it challenging for some readers to fully grasp the symbolic significance of certain objects. The novel’s reliance on interior monologues might create ambiguity around the interpretation of objects’ evolving meanings.

Critiques of these literary works within the framework of Thing Theory highlight the tension between the theory’s principles and the execution of those principles in specific narratives. Critics may question the balance between the exploration of object agency and other literary elements such as character development and narrative style.

Thing Theory: Criticism Against It

• Reductionism Concerns: Critics argue that Thing Theory, by emphasizing the agency of objects, may oversimplify complex social and cultural phenomena. The reduction of intricate human experiences to the influence of objects neglects the multifaceted nature of human agency and social dynamics.
• Limited Human-Centric View: Some critics contend that Thing Theory places too much importance on the role of objects, potentially neglecting the broader socio-political contexts and power structures that shape human-object interactions. This critique suggests that a more comprehensive analysis should consider the intricate interplay between humans, objects, and societal systems.
• Neglect of Intentionality: Critics argue that Thing Theory may overlook the intentional aspects of human behavior and cultural production. Focusing on the agency of objects could downplay the deliberate choices and intentions of individuals in creating and using these objects within a cultural and historical context.
• Overemphasis on Western Perspectives: Some critics suggest that Thing Theory, originating primarily in Western academic discourse, might not adequately address the diverse cultural perspectives on object agency. This criticism highlights the need for a more inclusive and globally informed approach that considers how different cultures attribute meaning and agency to objects.
• Challenge of Empirical Verification: Critics express concerns about the difficulty of empirically verifying claims about the agency of objects. Unlike human agency, which can be observed through intentionality and conscious action, determining the agency of objects may be more speculative and challenging to substantiate empirically.
• Potential Anthropomorphism: There is a critique that ascribing agency to objects may involve a form of anthropomorphism, attributing human-like qualities to non-human entities. This criticism raises questions about the validity of treating objects as active agents with intentions, consciousness, or influence comparable to human agency.

While Thing Theory has enriched discussions about the relationship between humans and objects, these criticisms highlight the need for a nuanced and context-aware approach that considers the limitations and potential oversights of the theory.

Thing Theory: Key Terms

Key Terms in Thing Theory

1. Object Agency: The attribution of influence and action to inanimate objects.

2. Material Culture: The study of the significance of objects in understanding historical periods and cultural shifts.

3. Object Biographies: Examining the life stories and histories of objects.

4. Consumer Culture Critique: Analyzing how objects contribute to identity formation within consumerist societies.

5. Thing Power: The inherent capacity of objects to influence social and ecological systems.

6. Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO): A philosophical perspective asserting equal ontological status for living and non-living entities.

7. Intentionality: The deliberate choices and purposes behind human-object interactions.

8. Anthropomorphism: Attributing human-like qualities or agency to non-human entities.

9. Empirical Verification: The challenge of substantiating claims about the agency of objects through observable evidence.

10. Socio-Political Contexts: The broader frameworks and power structures that shape human-object interactions.

Thing Theory: Suggested Readings

1. Bennett, Jane. Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things. Duke University Press, 2010.
2. Bogost, Ian. Alien Phenomenology, or What It’s Like to Be a Thing. University of Minnesota Press, 2012.
3. Brown, Bill. A Sense of Things: The Object Matter of American Literature. University of Chicago Press, 2003.
4. DeLillo, Don. White Noise. Penguin Books, 1986.
5. Latour, Bruno. Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford University Press, 2005.
6. Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper & Row, 1970.
7. Morton, Timothy. Realist Magic: Objects, Ontology, Causality. Open Humanities Press, 2013.
8. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. Penguin Classics, 2003.
9. Woolf, Virginia. To the Lighthouse. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1927.
10. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter Series. Scholastic. Various publication dates.