Such as It Is: On Brian Massumi's "Ontopower"
Brian Massumi's Ontopower: Technologies of Self and World (2015) isn't a light read. It's a dense, challenging work that delves into the complex relationship between power, affect, and the very fabric of reality. Published in March 2016, it continues to resonate with scholars across various disciplines, prompting ongoing discussion and reinterpretation. This article will explore key themes in Massumi's work, examining its contribution to our understanding of power dynamics in the 21st century.
Beyond Representation: Affect and the Unfelt
One of the central arguments of Ontopower is the need to move beyond traditional understandings of power as solely representational. Massumi argues that power operates at a pre-representational level, through what he terms "affect." Affect, for Massumi, isn't simply emotion; it's a bodily capacity for intensity, a pre-cognitive force that shapes our experience of the world. This "unfelt" dimension of affect is crucial, as it allows power to operate beneath the level of conscious awareness, influencing our behavior and perceptions in subtle yet profound ways.
This concept challenges the notion that power is solely exerted through explicit coercion or ideological control. Instead, Massumi suggests that power operates through the manipulation and modulation of affect, creating environments that shape our capacities for feeling and acting. This is particularly relevant in understanding the subtle ways power operates within contemporary technologies and social structures.
The Ontopower of Technology: A New Paradigm of Power
Massumi’s concept of “ontopower” differs significantly from traditional notions of power. He shifts the focus from power as a relation between subjects to power as a capacity inherent within systems. This capacity shapes both self and world, fundamentally altering the very possibilities of being and becoming.
The book explores this in the context of technological advancements. Technological systems, argues Massumi, aren't merely tools; they actively shape the very conditions of our existence, influencing our bodies, perceptions, and possibilities. This isn't simply a matter of technological determinism, but rather a complex interplay between technology, affect, and the emergence of new ontological possibilities. He demonstrates how technologies don't just represent reality; they actively constitute it.
The Virtual and the Real: Exploring the Blurred Lines
Massumi's work grapples with the increasingly blurred lines between the virtual and the real, arguing that the virtual isn't simply a copy or representation of the real but a generative force in its own right. This is evident in his analysis of digital technologies and virtual environments, which he sees not as separate realms but as integral components of contemporary experience.
The virtual, in Massumi's framework, isn't merely an illusion but a space where new forms of affect and potentiality are generated. It's a space where power operates in novel ways, shaping our experiences and capacities through the modulation of intensity and the creation of new possibilities. This intertwining of virtual and real significantly impacts how we understand the exercise and experience of power in our increasingly digital age.
Critique and Impact
While influential, Massumi's work has faced criticism. Some argue that his concept of affect is too abstract or difficult to operationalize. Others find his language overly technical and inaccessible to a wider audience. Despite these critiques, Massumi's contribution remains significant. His work has inspired new avenues of inquiry in fields such as affect theory, political philosophy, and media studies. Ontopower challenges traditional power analyses, pushing us to consider the subtle, often unconscious, ways power operates within our increasingly technological world.
The book's impact is visible in the growing field of affect studies, which examines the role of emotions and intensities in shaping social and political life. Massumi’s work has also significantly influenced discussions surrounding the impact of technology on subjectivity and the formation of identity.
Conclusion: Understanding the "Such as It Is"
The title, "Such as It Is," reflects the provisional and emergent nature of Massumi's project. It acknowledges the inherent complexities and ambiguities involved in understanding the relationship between power, technology, and affect. Massumi’s work invites us to engage with these complexities, to grapple with the challenges of understanding power not as a static entity but as a dynamic, ever-evolving force shaping our world and ourselves. It’s a call to move beyond simplistic understandings of power and to embrace the inherent uncertainty and potentiality inherent in the "such as it is" of our experience. By understanding ontopower, we can begin to critically engage with the subtle ways power shapes our lives, paving the way for more nuanced and effective strategies for resistance and transformation.
