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The symmetries and asymmetries of human–thing relations. A dialogue

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2017

Ian Hodder  and
Gavin Lucas
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Abstract

This paper presents a dialogue about the question of symmetry and asymmetry in human–thing relations, and the links between such asymmetries and those encountered in power relations amongst humans. The conversation discusses various issues, such as whether symmetry is possible in any kind of relation, how one defines asymmetry, whether there are different kinds of asymmetry, and how inequality between humans is related to the asymmetries in human–thing entanglements. The last issue is considered especially important in light of the various critiques that have been levelled at actor networks and other relational materialisms for their weakened political stance insofar as sources of inequality and injustice are so widely distributed that they become, in effect, apolitical.

Keywords

Entanglement theoryasymmetrypowerdependencyhumansthings
Type
Discussion Article
Information
Archaeological Dialogues , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , December 2017 , pp. 119 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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