In terms of looking at our society through a media lens, assemblage can describe the connection between technology and human beings. Media platforms, such as FaceBook, Instagram, Tik Tok, etc. are all virtual representations of this connection, since we are able to share our personal profiles online. Through the process of making a post, and then actually posting it, humans need many forms of technology, such as devices, internet, wifi, etc. The keyword assemblage allows us to think about the dependence humans have on technology as well as the complex nature of technology and media platforms. For instance, in class we were able to see how making a simple tweet incorporates many different concepts, or “a variety of heterogeneous elements,” (Wise, 16). Every form of media can be broken down into the parts that allow that specific platform to function properly and sufficiently. By breaking media platforms down, we are able to see their assemblage.
I love your examples of assemblage, showing how it is used in current media platforms that people use on the daily basis. Just having a single Instagram post can take multiple steps such as using a device, having a profile, having a caption, and much more. Being able to breakdown the multiple steps into subcategory shows all the assemblage going into a single post. Showing the connection between human interactions and technology adds to the argument that humans are evolving with assistance from technology. Being able to classify the various elements to breaking down the media, we can learn about the technology.
I like how you chose to show the connection between humans and technology through the action of creating a post. It’s very eye-opening to reflect on just how much actually goes behind making a post besides the obvious of either typing out a caption or selecting a photo to share. There are countless wired connections, signals, and routers that do a majority of the heavy lifting without us even knowing. Recently, I have found myself thinking about the fact that so much technological advancement is occurring around us, yet it’s difficult to notice when you cannot physically see half of it actually taking place.