Articulation

In assemblage theory, articulation refers to the connections and relationships between different components within an assemblage. Articulations are the processes that structure and organize the various elements of an assemblage, giving it form and function¹.

Key aspects of articulation in assemblage theory include:

1. Double articulation: Articulations are described as having two aspects:

   • Content: The material, physical, and functional aspects of an assemblage
   • Expression: The semiotic, symbolic, and representational aspects of an assemblage¹

2. Contingent connections: Articulations are contingent, meaning they are not predetermined or fixed, but rather subject to change and reconfiguration².

3. Relations of exteriority: Articulations involve relations of exteriority, where components can be detached from one assemblage and become part of another without losing their identity³.

4. Dynamic processes: Articulations are not static but involve ongoing processes of territorialization, deterritorialization, and reterritorialization, which constantly reshape the assemblage¹⁴.

5. Heterogeneous elements: Articulations connect diverse and heterogeneous components, including human and non-human actors, across different domains and scales¹.

Articulations play a crucial role in assemblage theory by explaining how diverse elements come together to form functional wholes while maintaining their autonomy and potential for reconfiguration. This concept allows for a more flexible and dynamic understanding of social and material formations compared to traditional structuralist approaches¹³.

Citations:

Footnotes

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblage_(philosophy) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

2. http://claireshannon317.blogspot.com/2014/06/articulation-assemblage.html ↩

3. https://workingtogether.io/the-assemblage/ ↩ ↩²

4. https://nooshinesmaeili.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/dec-8-assemblage-theory-ecology/ ↩