On my walk home from class, I started noticing objects in my line of sight that I did not ordinarily observe. I spotted garbage, plastic, and falling leaves. Learning taught me that things may be ‘alive’ in certain ways, that force is not a biological life form in the popular sense, and that they, too, may have energy capable of shaping the world we inhabit.
Jane Bennett’s Vibrant Matter, which emphasizes the inner vitality and agency of a non-human corpse, introduced me to the concept of ‘thing-power.’ It fundamentally questions the anthropocentric dichotomy between humans and inanimate matter. Bennett (2010) explains how planetary objects vibrated that day, appearing as lifeless objects one moment and then becoming living beings the next: waste, then takers; inert matter, then active energy. Second, the emphasis is on assemblages (dynamic networks of human and non-human things) and actants (any entity capable of producing effects), as well as interconnectedness and distributed initiative in ecosystems. Garbage, for example, is not waste but rather a component of a larger collection that includes natural forces and human behavior. It is a complicated interaction involving air, water, and the metal itself. It indicates a slow but consistent environmental outcome.
When I was installing my shelf at home, I smelt rust on my hands, which made me question whether it was also “alive.” When iron comes into contact with damp air, it oxidizes and turns rusty. Although it is commonly regarded as a symbol of obsolescence and deterioration, it is truly full of ‘life.’ It is not only the influence of ambient elements but also a dynamic phenomenon with its own effects that can change the attractiveness, subjectively destabilize human intents (while retaining the original metallic texture), and even affect the chemistry of soil and water when dropped. Bennett (2010) contends that matter is an active force in the process of being formed, rather than a passive thing. In fact, the meaning of objects in an environment is formed not only from human definitions but also from dynamic independent actors interacting with external factors (Bennett 2010).
How to use Rust Converter (2024) Fuze Products. Available at: https://fuze-products.co.uk/guide/how-to-use-a-rust-converter/ (Accessed: 01 December 2024).
Recognizing the vitality of nonhuman beings has a transforming impact on global environmental movements and policies, both positive and bad. On the plus side, this viewpoint can inspire policy reformulations that include ecosystems and their non-human components, as well as humankind, into a global sustainable development community. Bennett (2010) concurs that this will emphasize the shared materiality that ties us to the world. Bennett (2010), however, emphasizes that acknowledging matter’s agency does not absolve humans of responsibility in their relationships. In most circumstances, human behavior cannot be disregarded, such as the “fire” detailed in the preceding blog.
加拿大卑诗夏季发生400多起人为山火: 大纪元 (2018) 大纪元 www.epochtimes.com. Available at: https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/18/8/27/n10670937.htm (Accessed: 01 December 2024).
By reviewing the vitality of non-human organisms, we can see that the world is far more intricate and interconnected than we realize. Whether it’s plastic debris, falling leaves, or rust in our hands, these seemingly lifeless objects are “alive” in their own right, continually altering our surroundings. I feel that it is critical to shift the materialism of these ‘things’ from dominance to cooperation in order to generate a new worldview. On the journey that day, I grieved that I had missed so many minor nuances about the planet; perhaps we should pause and look around us, appreciate all powers, and coexist with them rather than just ourselves.
Biliography:
1.Bennett, J. (2010) Vibrant matter: A political ecology of things. Durham: Duke University Press.
