Assemblage is the arrangement and organization of different elements. Every form of media can be broken down into smaller parts, and each part is necessary for the media to function properly. In class, my group looked at IFixIt videos on youtube, which are videos that can be uploaded onto the Youtube channel by anyone and teach people how to fix various technologies. We broke down IFixIt videos into many different elements including the repairer, the broken device, the knowledge of repairing, the youtube channel, device, audience of followers, video engagement, internet, and more. By breaking down the different parts of IFixIt videos, we can see that both humans and nonhumans have agency in this assemblage. The human is the one that breaks the device, has the knowledge to fix the device, turns on the film camera, fixes the device, and posts their video on the youtube channel. Humans can like, comment, and share on the videos. The technology has agency, too, as it “suggests” IFixIt videos to users on Youtube, creates the order in which the videos and comments appear, and includes advertisements based on the user’s personal data.
I think the relationship between assemblage and media is an important concept because it highlights how every component of technology and medias has a purpose that strives to achieve the desired goal. Creating a platform such as iFix It or podcasts as my group focused on, all is done with intent. The agency of technological productions can thus only be preformed with the correct pieces within the assemblage. The activity that we did in class successfully demonstrated the necessary components of technology and the make up of an assemblage as a whole.
I thought your example of IFixIt as an assemblage perfectly summarized the definition of how an assemblage relates media and humanistic elements. By breaking down all the different necessary elements of the video it is clear to see the human parts such as user engagement and the media parts such as internet or wifi. I also thought that was an interesting point how the technology has agency because it can suggest videos. This has an impact on the human as it affects what we watch and what we take in as content.
Breaking down the different forms of media like the IFixit during class really helped me understand the elements that make up assemblage. Within your example, you have the elements of technology and humans. My group focused on the assemblage of books, looking at the intangible and tangible aspects. So instead of technology we said “words and letters,” and instead of humans we said “ink.” Breaking down assemblage into these two types of categories highlights the organizational aspect of the keyword. I agree that the class activity really did a good job at presenting this keyword and giving us a clear understanding of it.
During Class, I thought the Ifixit video in your example was more of a noticeable assemblage. there is an obvious interrelationship between human and non human components that are hard to trace in other assemblages. Introducing technology as an agency was very interesting and I also thought about the keyword infrastructure in relation to assemblages because both consist of different elements