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Assemblage thinking and actor-network theory: conjunctions, disjunctions, cross-fertilisations
This paper shows that assemblage thinking and actor-network theory (ANT) have much more to gain from each other than debate has so far conceded. Exploring the conjunctions and disjunctions between the two approaches, it proposes three cross-fertilisations that have implications for understanding three key processes in our sociomaterial world: stabilisation, change and affect. First, the conceptual vocabulary of ANT can enrich assemblage thinking with an explicitly spatial account of the ways in which assemblages are drawn together, reach across space and are stabilised. Second, each approach is better attuned to conceptualising a particular kind of change in sociomaterial relations: ANT describes change without rupture, or fluidity, whereas assemblage thinking describes change with rupture, or events. Third and last, assemblage thinking could fashion ANT with a greater sensitivity for the productive role of affect in bringing socio-material relations into being through the production of desire/wish (désir). We demonstrate the implications of these cross-fertilisations for empirical work through a case study of the global market for assisted reproduction.
Journal Article
In Defense of Things
In much recent thinking, social and cultural realms are thought of as existing prior to—or detached from—things, materiality, and landscape. It is often assumed, for example, that things are entirely 'constructed' by social or cultural perceptions and have no existence in and of themselves. Bjornar Olsen takes a different position. Drawing on a range of theories, especially phenomenology and actor-network-theory, Olsen claims that human life is fully mixed up with things and that humanity and human history emerge from such relationships. Things, moreover, possess unique qualities that are inherent in our cohabitation with them—qualities that help to facilitate existential security and memory of the past. This important work of archaeological theory challenges us to reconsider our ideas about the nature of things, past and present, demonstrating that objects themselves possess a dynamic presence that we must take into account if we are to understand the world we and they inhabit.
eBook
Bruno Latour in pieces : an intellectual biography
\"Bruno Latour stirs things up. Latour began as a lover of science and technology, co-founder of actor-network theory, and philosopher of a modernity that had \"never been modern.\" In the meantime he is regarded not just as one of the most intelligent and also popular exponents of science studies but also as a major innovator of the social sciences, an exemplary wanderer who walks the line between the sciences and the humanities. This book provides the first comprehensive overview of the Latourian oeuvre, from his early anthropological studies in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), to influential books like Laboratory Life and Science in Action, and his most recent reflections on an empirical metaphysics of \"modes of existence.\" In the course of this enquiry it becomes clear that the basic problem to which Latour's work responds is that of social tradition, the transmission of experience and knowledge. What this empirical philosopher constantly grapples with is the complex relationship of knowledge, time, and culture\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
Topological Taxonomy of Water Distribution Networks
Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) can be regarded as complex networks and modeled as graphs. In this paper, Complex Network Theory is applied to characterize the behavior of WDNs from a topological point of view, reviewing some basic metrics, exploring their fundamental properties and the relationship between them. The crucial aim is to understand and describe the topology of WDNs and their structural organization to provide a novel tool of analysis which could help to find new solutions to several arduous problems of WDNs. The aim is to understand the role of the topological structure in the WDNs functioning. The methodology is applied to 21 existing networks and 13 literature networks. The comparison highlights some topological peculiarities and the possibility to define a set of best design parameters for ex-novo WDNs that could also be used to build hypothetical benchmark networks retaining the typical structure of real WDNs. Two well-known types of network ((a) square grid; and (b) random graph) are used for comparison, aiming at defining a possible mathematical model for WDNs. Finally, the interplay between topology and some performance requirements of WDNs is discussed.
Journal Article
The globalization of theatre 1870-1930 : the theatrical networks of Maurice E. Bandmann
\"When the Anglo-American theatre manager and actor, Maurice E. Bandmann, died of enteric fever at the Colonial Hospital in Gibraltar on 9 March 1922 shortly before his fiftieth birthday, the event was reported across the English-speaking world from Madras to Singapore, and from Cairo to Hong Kong, with many newspapers carrying lengthy obituaries: The Times of India called him 'the pioneer of musical comedy in this part of the world' having 'brought to the East some forty or fifty companies. The Straits Times in Singapore claimed that 'he inaugurated the system that will remain as a monument to his memory in theatrical circles. The Era, London's theatrical trade paper, emphasized 'the fine plays and well-equipped companies he presented (which) became famous in all parts of the world, many stars appearing under his management, and the Bandman Opera Company, with all the latest musical comedy successes, was exceedingly popular everywhere in the East. As these statements indicate, Maurice Bandmann was at the time considered a key figure in what will be called in this book, the globalization of theatre. For over two decades, Bandmann was a household name in the theatre world of the time, a guarantor of quality itinerant theatrical entertainment, especially of musical comedy performed by the legendary Bandmann Opera Company. The Bandmann Circuit, as it was known, extended from Gibraltar to Tokyo and included more than two dozen towns and cities, across the Asian continent as well as occasional forays across to the West Indies and even South America. In terms of sheer reach and territory covered, Bandmann was a global theatrical entrepreneur, who, while certainly concentrating on English-speaking settlements also performed regularly in Japan to Japanese audiences, before Chinese in Shanghai and Peking and numerous cities where audiences were linguistically mixed\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
New Rural Community Construction or Retention Development: A Comparative Analysis of Rural Settlement Transition Mechanism in Plain Agriculture Area of China Based on Actor Network Theory
It is an important way to realize rural revitalization and sustainable development to guide rural settlement transition (RST) in an appropriate way. This paper uses actor network theory (ANT) to construct a theoretical framework for the study of RST. Taking two typical villages with different transition paths in rural areas of North China Plain as examples, this paper reveals the mechanism of RST and makes a comparative analysis. The results show that: 1) after identifying problems and obligatory passage point, key actors recruit heterogeneous actors into the actor network by entrusting them with common interests, and realize RST under the system operation. 2) Rural settlements under different transition paths have similarities in the problems to be solved, collective actions and policy factors, but there are differences in the transition process, mechanism and effect. The actor network and mechanism of RST through the path of new rural community construction are more complex and the transition effect is more thorough. In contrast, the degree of RST of retention development path is limited if there is no resource and location advantage. 3) Based on the applicable conditions of different paths, this paper designs a logical framework of ‘Situation-Structure-Behavior-Result’ to scientifically guide the identification of RST paths under the background of rural revitalization.
Journal Article
Impacts of the Middle Route of China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project on the water network structure in the receiving basin
The Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MRSNWD) is the main skeleton of China’s National Water Network, its construction has changed the structure of the original water network, and analyzing the topological change of the water network in context with MRSNWD is significant for water network planning and management. In this study, the overall network characteristics of the water network in 2010 and 2020 were analyzed based on the small-world and scale-free characteristics of complex network theory. The topological changes of the water network from a node perspective were examined using three network centrality indexes: degree centrality (DC), closeness centrality (CC), and betweenness centrality (BC), while assessing the important nodes of the water network and recognizing functional areas of cold-hot spots. The results show that the water network’s centrality in the study area improved after the project construction, with the average degree of the water network increasing from 2.39 to 2.42 and the average path length decreasing from 111.81 to 97.08. The propagation efficiency and network stability also increased, with a rise in important node proportion from 9.8 to 14.4%. The nodes in the DC hotspot zone along the project route have increased by 1.5%, implying an increase in the connectivity of the water network, while MRSNWD optimizes its north–south hub propagation path. “Small-worldness” indicates that most nodes of a network can be accessed and connected over shorter paths. The water network has a significant “small-worldness” and has been enhanced by the MRSNWD’s construction. Approximating the water network as a scale-free network can impact its security by identifying critical nodes. The results of this research can provide the necessary technical support and reference significance for China’s National Water Network.
Journal Article