DONNA HARAWAY

The Promises of Monsters: A Regenerative Politics for Inappropriate/ Others

!a"rence #ross$erg% &ar' Nelson% Pa(la A) Treichler% e s)% Cultural Studies *Ne" Yor+, Ro(tle ge% -../0 % pp) /.12334)
p)/.1 At least for those "hom this essa' a

resses% 5nat(re6 o(tsi e artifact(alism is not so m(ch else"here as no"here% a ifferent matter altogether) p)/.1Optical instr(ments are s($7ect2shifters) #o relentlessl' in the late t"entieth cent(r') ess +no"s% the s($7ect is $eing change

pp)/.12/.8 I thin+ sight can $e rema e for the activists an a vocates engage in fitting political filters to see the "orl in the h(es of re % green% an (ltraviolet% i)e)% from the 9:ND p)/.1; perspectives of a still possi$le socialism% feminist an anti2racist environmentalism% an science for the people) p)/.8 Nat(re is for me% an I vent(re for man' of (s "ho are planetar' fet(ses gestating in the amniotic efffl(via of terminal in (strialism%< one of those impossi$le things characteri=e $' #a'atri >piva+ as that "hich "e cannot not esire) :?cr(ciatingl' conscio(s of nat(re@s isc(rsive constit(tion as 5other6 in the histories of colonialism% racism% se?ism% an class omination of man' +in s% "e nonetheless fin in this pro$lematic% ethno2specific% long2live % an mo$ile concept something "e cannot o "itho(t% $(t can never 5have)6 We m(st fin another relationship to nat(re $esi es reification an possession) p)/.8 :fforts to travel into 5nat(re6 $ecome to(rist e?c(rsions that remin the vo'ager of the price of s(ch isplacements2one pa's to see f(n2ho(se reflections of oneself) :fforts to preserve 5nat(re6 in par+s remain fatall' tro($le $' the inera ica$le mar+ of the fo(n ing e?p(lsion of those "ho (se to live there% not as innocents in a gar en% $(t as people for "hom the categories of nat(re an c(lt(re "ere not the salient ones) :?pensive pro7ects to collect 5nat(re@s6 iversit' an $an+ it seem to pro (ce e$ase coin% impoverishe see % an (st' relics) p)/.8 Ainall'% the pro7ects for representing an enforcing h(man 5nat(re6 are famo(s for their imperiali=ing essences% most recentl' reincarnate in the H(man #enome Pro7ect) p)/.8 >o% nat(re is not a ph'sical place to "hich one can go% nor a treas(re to fence in or $an+% nor as essence to $e save or violate ) Nat(re is not hi en an so oes not nee to $e (nveile ) Nat(re is not a te?t to $e rea in the co es of mathematics an $iome icine) It is not the 5other6 "ho offers origin% replenishment% an service) Neither mother% n(rse% nor slave% nat(re is not matri?% reso(rce% or tool for the repro (ction of man) p)/.8 Nat(re is also a tropos% a trope) It is fig(re% constr(ction% artifact% movement% isplacement) Nat(re cannot pre2e?ist its constr(ction) This constr(ction is $ase on a partic(lar +in of move B a tropos or 5t(rn)6 Aaithf(l to the #ree+% as tropos nat(re is a$o(t t(rning) Troping% "e t(rn to

nat(re as if to the earth% to the primal st(ff2geotropic% ph'siotropic) Topicall'% "e travel to"ar the earth% a commonplace) pp)/.82/.4 Airst% it means that 9:ND p)/.8; nat(re for (s is ma e% as $oth fiction an fact) If organisms are nat(ral o$7ects% it is cr(cial to remem$er that organisms are not $orn, the' are ma e in "orl 2changing technoscientific practices $' partic(lar collective actors in partic(lar times an places) p)/.4 Technological econte?t(ali=ation is or inar' e?perience for h(n re s of millions if not $illions of h(man $eings% as "ell as other organisms) I s(ggest that this is not a enat(ring so m(ch as a partic(lar pro (ction of nat(re) The preocc(pation "ith pro (ctionism that has characteri=e so m(ch parochial Western isco(rse an practice seems to have h'pertrophie into something C(ite marvelo(s: the "hole "orl is rema e in the image of commo it' pro (ction)@ p)/.4 If the "orl e?ists for (s as 5nat(re%6 this esignates a +in of relationship% an achievement among man' actors% not all of them h(man% not all of them organic% not all of them technological)-D In its scientific em$o iments as "ell as in other forms nat(re is ma e% $(t not entirel' $' h(mans, it is a co2constr(ction among h(mans an non2h(mans) p)/.4 It is this $arel' a missi$le recognition of the o sorts of agents an actors "hich/ "hom "e m(st a mit to the narrative of collective life% incl( ing nat(re% that sim(ltaneo(sl'% first% t(rns (s ecisivel' a"a' from enlightenment2 erive mo ern an postmo ern premises a$o(t nat(re an c(lt(re% the social an technical% science an societ' an % secon % saves (s from the ea l' point of vie" of pro (ctionism) p)/.E Organisms emerge from a isc(rsive process) Fiolog' is a isco(rse% not the living "orl itself) F(t h(mans are not the onl' actors in the constr(ction of the entities of an' scientific isco(rse, machines * elegates that can pro (ce s(rprises0 an other partners *not 5pre2or e?tra2 isc(rsive o$7ects%6 $(t partners0 are active constr(ctors of nat(ral scientific o$7ects) !i+e other scientific $o ies% organisms are not i eological constr(ctions) p)/.E !i+e Gatie Ging@s o$7ects calle 5poems%6 sites of literar' pro (ction "here lang(age also is an actor% $o ies as o$7ects of +no"le ge are material2semiotic generative no es) Their $o(n aries materiali=e in social interaction among h(mans an non2h(mans% incl( ing the machines an other instr(ments that me iate e?changes at cr(cial interfaces an that f(nction as elegates for other actors@ f(nctions an p(rposes) 5O$7ects6 li+e $o ies o not pre2e?ist as s(ch) >imilarl'% 5nat(re6 cannot pre2e?ist as s(ch% $(t neither is its e?istence i eological) Nat(re is a commonplace an a po"erf(l isc(rsive constr(ction% effecte in the interactions among material2semiotic actors% h(man an not) The siting/sighting of s(ch entities is not a$o(t isengage iscover'% $(t a$o(t m(t(al an (s(all' (neC(al str(ct(ring% a$o(t ta+ing ris+s% a$o(t elegating competences)141
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An) -<) !ato(r has evelope the concept of elegation to refer to the translations an e?changes $et"een an among people oing science an their machines% "hich act as 5 elegates6 in a "i e arra' of "a's) Mar? consi ere machines to $e 5 ea la$or%6 $(t that notion% "hile still necessar' for some cr(cial aspects of force an reifie elegation% is too (nlivel' to get at the man' "a's that machines are part of social relations 5thro(gh "hich actants shift competences6 !ato(r *-..D% p)-4D0) >ee also Fr(no !ato(r *forthcoming% $0) !ato(r% ho"ever% as "ell as most

p)/.. The fanciest statements a$o(t ra ical econte?t(ali=ation as the historical form of nat(re in late capitalism are tropes for the em$o iment% the pro (ction% the literali=ation of e?perience in that specific mo e) This is not a C(estion of reflection or correspon ences% $(t of technolog'% "here the social an the technical implo e into each other) :?perience is a semiotic process a semiosis * e !a(retis% -.E<0) p)/.. I "o(l % ho"ever% li+e to isplace the terminolog' of repro (ction "ith that of generation) Her' rarel' oes an'thing reall' get repro (ce , "hat@s going on is m(ch more pol'morpho(s than that) &ertainl' people on@t repro (ce% (nless the' get themselves clone % "hich "ill al"a's $e ver' e?pensive an ris+'% not to mention $oring) p)/.. to $e an 5inappropriate/ other6 means to $e in critical% econstr(ctive relationalit'% in a iffracting rather than reflecting *ratio0nalit'2as the means of ma+ing potent connection that e?cee s omination) To $e inappropriate/ is not to fit in the ta?on% to $e islocate from the availa$le maps specif'ing +in s of actors an +in s of narratives% not to $e originall' fi?e $' ifference) To $e inappropriate/ is to $e neither mo ern nor postmo ern% $(t to insist on the amo ern)

of the esta$lishe scholars in the social st( ies of science% en s (p "ith too narro" a concept of the 5collective%6 one $(ilt (p o(t of onl' machines an scientists% "ho are consi ere in a ver' narro" time an space frame) F(t circ(lations of s+ills t(rn o(t to ta+e some stranger t(rns) Airst% "ith the important 9:ND p)33/; e?ception of his "riting an teaching in colla$oration "ith the primatologist >hirle' >tr(m% "ho has fo(ght har in her profession for recognition of primates as savv' social actors% !ato(r pa's too little attention to the non2machine% other non2h(mans in the interactions) >ee >tr(m *-.E40) The 5collective%6 of "hich 5nat(re6 in an' form is one e?ample from m' point of vie"% is al"a's an artifact% al"a's social% not $eca(se of some transcen ental >ocial that e?plains science or vice versa% $(t $eca(se of its heterogeneo(s actants/actors) Not onl' are not all of those actors/ actants people, I agree there is a sociolog' of machines) F(t that is not eno(gh, not all of the other actors/actants "ere $(ilt $' people) The artifact(al 5collective6 incl( es a "itt' actor that I have sometimes calle co'ote) The intricacies that constit(te the 5collective6 m(st incl( e those $et"een h(mans an artifacts in the form of instr(ments an machines% a gen(inel' social lan scape) F(t the interface $et"een machines an other non2h(mans% as "ell as the interface $et"een h(mans an non2 machine non2h(mans m(st also $e co(nte in) Animals are fairl' o$vio(s actors% an their interfaces "ith people an machines are easier to a mit an theori=e) >ee Donna Hara"a' *-.E.a0, Far$ara Nos+e *-.E.0, Para o?icall'% from the perspective of the +in of artifact(alism I am tr'ing to s+etch% animals lose their o$7ect stat(s that has re (ce them to things in so m(ch Western philosoph' an practice) The' inha$it neither nat(re *as o$7ect0 nor c(lt(re *as s(rrogate h(man0% $(t instea inha$it a place calle else"hereI) F(t there is a secon "a' in "hich !ato(r an other ma7or fig(res in science st( ies "or+ "ith an impoverishe 5collective)6 &orrectl' "or+ing to resist a 5social6 e?planation of 5technical6% practice $' e?plo ing the $inar'% these scholars have a ten enc' covertl' to reintro (ce the $inar' $' "orshipping onl' one term B the 5technical)6 :speciall'% an' consi eration of matters li+e masc(line s(premac' or racism or imperialism or class str(ct(res are ina missi$le $eca(se the' are the ol 5social6 ghosts that $loc+e real e?planation of science in actionI)The' never as+ ho" the practices of masc(line s(premac'% or man' other s'stems of str(ct(re ineC(alit'% get $(ilt into an o(t of "or+ing machines) Ho" an in "hat irections these transferences of 5competences6 "or+ sho(l $e a foc(s of rapt attention) >'stems of e?ploitation might $e cr(cial parts of the 5technical content6 of science) F(t the >>> scholars ten to ismiss s(ch C(estions "ith the assertion that the' lea to the $a ol a's "hen science "as asserte $' ra icals simpl' to 5reflect6 social relationsI) 9:ND p)333; IAor all of their e?traor inar' creativit'% so far the mappings from most >>> scholars have stoppe ea at the fearf(l seas "here the "orl l' practices of ineC(alit' lap at the shores% infiltrate the est(aries% an set the parameters of repro (ction of scientific practice% artifacts% an +no"le ge) If onl' it "ere a C(estion of reflections $et"een social relations an scientific constr(ctions% ho" eas' it "o(l $e to con (ct 5political6 inC(ir' into scienceJ)))

p)3DD Diffraction oes not pro (ce 5the same6 isplace % as reflection an refraction o) Diffraction is a mapping of interference% not of replication% reflection% or repro (ction) A iffraction pattern oes not map "here ifferences appear% $(t rather maps "here the effects of ifference appear) p)3DD Within the $ell' of the monster% even inappropriate/ others seem to $e interpellate B calle thro(gh interr(ption B into a partic(lar location that I have learne to call a c'$org s($7ect position)-E p)3D< The regions mappe $' this clac+et'% str(ct(ralist meaning2ma+ing machine co(l never $e mista+en for the transcen ental realms of Nat(re or >ociet') Allie "ith Fr(no !ato(r% I "ill p(t m' str(ct(ralist engine to amo ern p(rposes: this "ill not $e a tale of the rational progress of science% in potential leag(e "ith progressive politics% patientl' (nveiling a gro(n ing nat(re% nor "ill it $e a emonstration of the social constr(ction of science an nat(re that locates all agenc' firml' on the si e of h(manit') Nor "ill the mo ern $e s(perce e or infiltrate $' the postmo ern% $eca(se $elief in something calle the mo ern has itself $een a mista+e) Instea % the amo ern refers to a vie" of the histor' of science as c(lt(re that insists on the a$sence of $eginnings% enlightenments% an en ings: the "orl has al"a's $een in the mi le of things in (nr(l' an practical conversation% f(ll of action an str(ct(re $' a startling arra' of actants an of net"or+ing an (neC(al collectives) The m(ch2critici=e ina$ilit' of str(ct(ralist evices to provi e the narrative of iachronic histor'% of progress thro(gh time% "ill $e m' semiotic sC(are@s greatest virt(e) The shape of m' amo ern histor' "ill have a ifferent geometr'% not of progress $(t of permanent an m(lti2patterne interaction thro(gh "hich lives an "orl s get $(ilt% h(man an (nh(man) p)3D1 The semiotic sC(are% so s($tle in the han s of a Are ric Kameson% "ill $e rather more rigi an literal here
AI#LR: 8 9:ND p)3D1;

p)3D8 The pleas(res promise here are not those li$ertarian masc(linist fantasmics of the infinitel' regressive practice of $o(n ar' violation an the accompan'ing frisson of $rotherhoo % $(t 7(st ma'$e the pleas(re of regeneration in less ea l'% chiasmatic $or erlan s)/< Witho(t gro(n ing origins an "itho(t histor'@s ill(minating an progressive tropisms% ho" might "e map some semiotic possi$ilities for other topic+ go s an common placesM p)3D8 The a invites the vie"er to forget #(lf@s stat(s as one of the >even >isters of $ig oil% ran+ing eighth among the Aor$es 1DD in -.ED *$(t acC(ire $' &hevron $' the en of the eca e@s transnational capitalist restr(ct(ring0) In response to the financial an political challenges mo(nte in the earl' -.4Ds $' the Organi=ation of Oil :?porting &o(ntries *OP:&0 an $' ecological activism aro(n the glo$e% $' the late -.4Ds the scan al2ri en giant oil corporations ha evelope a vertising strategies that presente themselves as the "orl @s lea ing environmentalists2in ee % practicall' as the mothers of eco2feminism) There co(l $e no $etter stor' than that of Kane #oo all an the chimpan=ees for narrating the healing to(ch $et"een nat(re an societ'% me iate $' a science that pro (ces f(ll comm(nication in a chain

that lea s innocentl' 5from c(riosit'% to o$servation% to learning% to (n erstan ing)6/1 Here is a stor' of $lissf(l incorporation) p)3D4 In the National #eographic narrative% 5Kane6 entere the gar en 5alone6 in -.8D to see+ o(t 5man@s6 closest relatives% to esta$lish a +no"ing to(ch across g(lfs of time) p)3D4 Kane/Dr) #oo all "as represente almost as a ne" A am% a(thori=e to name not $' #o @s creative han % $(t $' the animal@s transformative to(ch) The people of Tan=ania isappear in a stor' in "hich the actors are the anthropoi apes an a 'o(ng Fritish "hite "oman engage in a thoro(ghl' mo ern sacre sec(lar rama) The chimpan=ees an #oo all are $oth enmeshe in stories of en angerment an salvation) In the post2Worl War II era the apes face $iological e?tinction, the planet faces n(clear an ecological annihilation, an the West faces e?p(lsion from its former colonial possessions) If onl' comm(nication can $e esta$lishe % estr(ction can $e averte ) p)3DE After Worl War II an the partial removal of e?plicit racism from evol(tionar' $iolog' an ph'sical anthropolog'% a goo eal of racist an colonialist isco(rse remaine pro7ecte onto the screen of 5man@s closest relatives%6 the anthropoi apes)/8 p)3D. Remem$ering that all coloni=e spots have e(phemisticall' state % a special relation to nat(re% let (s str(ct(re this stor' to tell something amo ern a$o(t nat(re an societ'2an perhaps something more compati$le "ith the s(rvival of all the net"or+e actants% h(man an (nh(man) To tell this stor' "e m(st is$elieve in $oth nat(re an societ' an resist their associate imperatives to represent% to reflect% to echo% to act as a ventriloC(ist for 5the other)6 The main point is there "ill $e no A am 2 an no Kane 2 "ho gets to name all the $eings in the gar en) The reason is simple: there is no gar en an never has $een) No name an no to(ch is original) The C(estion animating this iffracte narrative% this stor' $ase on little ifferences% is also simple: is there a conseC(ential ifference $et"een a political semiotics of artic(lation an a political semiotics of representationM p)3-D Airst% there are in igeno(s people in the forest% man' of "hom have organi=e themselves in recent 'ears into a regionall' gro(n e % "orl 2historical s($7ect prepare for local/glo$al interactions% or% in other terms% for $(il ing ne" an po"erf(l collectives o(t of h(mans an (nh(mans% technological an organic) With all of the po"er to reconstit(te the real implie in isc(rsive constr(ction% the' have $ecome a ne" isc(rsive s($7ect/o$7ect% the In igeno(s Peoples of the Ama=on% ma e (p of national an tri$al gro(ps from &olom$ia% :c(a or% Fra=il% an Per(% n(m$ering a$o(t one million persons% "ho in t(rn artic(late themselves "ith other organi=e gro(ps of the in igeno(s peoples of the Americas) p)3-D In igeno(s people are resisting a long histor' of force 5t(telage%6 in or er to confront the po"erf(l representations of the national an international environmentalists% $an+ers% evelopers% an technocrats) The e?tractors% for e?ample% the r($$er tappers% are also in epen entl' articulating their collective vie"point) Neither gro(p is "illing to see the Ama=on 5save 6 $' their e?cl(sion an permanent s($7ection to historicall' ominating political an economic forces) As Hecht an &oc+$(rn p(t it% The rubber tappers have not risked their lives for extractive reserves so they could live on them as debt peons (p. 2 2!. "ny

program for the "ma#on begins $ith basic human rights% an end to debt bondage& violence& enslavement& and killings practiced by those $ho $ould sei#e the lands these forest people have occupied for generations. 'orest people seek legal recognition of native lands and extractive reserves held under the principle of collective property& $orked as individual holdings $ith individual returns (p. 2 (!. p)3-- There "ill $e no nat(re "itho(t 7(stice) Nat(re an 7(stice% conteste em$o ie in the material "orl % "ill $ecome e?tinct or s(rvive together) isc(rsive o$7ects

p)3-- Theor' here is e?cee ingl' corporeal% an the $o ' is a collective, it is an historical artifact constit(te $' h(man as "ell as organic an technological (nh(man actors) Actors are entities "hich o things% have effects% $(il "orl s in concatenation "ith other (nli+e actors)33 >ome actors% for e?ample specific h(man ones% can tr' to re (ce other actors to reso(rces B to mere gro(n an matri? for their action, $(t s(ch a move is contesta$le% not the necessar' relation of 5h(man nat(re%@ to the rest of the "orl ) Other actors% h(man an (nh(man% reg(larl' resist re (ctionisms) The po"ers of omination o fail sometimes in their pro7ects to pin other actors o"n, people can "or+ to enhance the relevant fail(re rates) >ocial nat(re is the ne?(s I have calle artifact(al nat(re) The h(man 5 efen ers of the forest6 o not an have not live in a gar en, it is from a +not in the al"a's historical an heterogeneo(s ne?(s of social nat(re that the' artic(late their claims) Or perhaps% it is "ithin s(ch a ne?(s that I an people li+e me narrate a possi$le politics of artic(lation rather than representation) p)3-- In the conte?t of "orr'ing a$o(t "a's that social nat(re or socialist ecolog' so(n e too m(ch li+e the m(lti2(se policies in national forests in the Lnite >tates% "hich have res(lte in rapacio(s e?ploitation of the lan an of other organisms% Gane as+e a simple C(estion: 59W;ho spea+s for the 7ag(arM6I His C(estion "as precisel' li+e that as+e $' some pro2life gro(ps in the a$ortion e$ates: Who spea+s for the fet(sM What is "rong "ith $oth C(estionsM An ho" oes this matter relate to science st( ies as c(lt(ral st( iesM p)3-/ The effectiveness of s(ch representation epen s on istancing operations) The represente m(st $e isengage from s(rro(n ing an constit(ting isc(rsive an non2 isc(rsive ne?(ses an relocate in the a(thorial omain of the representative) In ee % the effect of this magical operation is to isempo"er precisel' those B in o(r case% the pregnant "oman an the peoples of the forest B "ho are 5close6 to the no"2represente 5nat(ral6 o$7ect) Foth the 7ag(ar an the fet(s are carve o(t of one collective entit' an relocate in another% "here the' are reconstit(te as o$7ects of a partic(lar +in B as the gro(n of a representational practice that forever a(thori=es the ventriloC(ist) p)3-/ :ver'thing that (se to s(rro(n an s(stain the represente o$7ect% s(ch as pregnant "omen an local people% simpl' isappears or re2enters the rama as an agonist) p)3-/ One set of entities $ecomes the represente % the other $ecomes the environment% often threatening% of the represente o$7ect) The onl' actor left is the spo+esperson% the one "ho represents) The forest is no longer the integ(ment in a co2constit(te social nat(re, the "oman is in no "a' a partner in an intricate an intimate ialectic of social relationalit' cr(cial to her o"n personhoo % as "ell as to the possi$le personhoo of her social2$(t (nli+e2internal co2actor)34 In

the li$eral logic of representation% the fet(s an the 7ag(ar m(st $e protecte precisel' from those closest to them% from their 5s(rro(n )6 The po"er of life an eath m(st $e elegate to the epistemologicall' most isintereste ventriloC(ist% an it is cr(cial to remem$er that all of this is a$o(t the po"er of life an eath) p)3-/ In ee % even $etter than the la"'er% 7( ge% or national legislator% the scientist is the perfect representative of nat(re% that is% of the permanentl' an constit(tivel' speechless o$7ective "orl ) p)3-/ The separate% o$7ective "orl 2non2social nat(re is a career) Nat(re legitimates the scientist@s career% as the Orient 7(stifies the representational practices of the Orientalist% even as precisel' 5Nat(re6 an the 5Orient6 are the pro (cts of the constit(tive practice of scientists an orientalists) p)3-/ Airst% operations shape an enroll ne" o$7ects or allies thro(gh vis(al ispla's or other means calle inscription evices) >econ % scientists spea+ as if the' "ere the mo(thpiece for the speechless o$7ects that the' have 7(st shape an enrolle as allies in an agonistic fiel calle science) !ato(r efines the actant as that "hich is represente , the o$7ective "orl appears to $e the actant solel' $' virt(e of the operations of representation *!ato(r% -.E4% pp) 4D24<% .D0) p)3-3 Airst% a chain of s($stit(tions% operating thro(gh inscription evices% relocates po"er an action in 5o$7ects6 ivorce from poll(ting conte?t(ali=ations an name $' formal a$stractions *5the fet(s%@0) Then% the rea er of inscriptions spea+s for his ocile constit(encies% the o$7ects) This is not a ver' livel' "orl % an it oes not finall' offer m(ch to 7ag(ars% in "hose interests the "hole apparat(s s(ppose l' operates) p)3-3 I have stresse actants as collective entities oing things in a str(ct(re an str(ct(ring fiel of action, I have frame the iss(e in terms of artic(lation rather than representation) H(man $eings (se names to point to themselves an other actors an easil' mista+e the names for the things) These same h(mans also thin+ the traces of inscription evices are li+e names B pointers to things% s(ch that the inscriptions an the things can $e enrolle in ramas of s($stit(tion an inversion) F(t the things% in m' vie"% o not pre2e?ist as ever2el(sive% $(t f(ll' pre2pac+age % referents for the names) Other actors are more li+e tric+sters than that) Fo(n aries ta+e provisional% never2finishe shape in artic(lator' practices) The potential for the (ne?pecte from (nstrippe h(man an (nh(man actants enrolle in artic(lations B i)e)% the potential for generation B remains $oth to tro($le an to empo"er technoscience) p)3-3 Perhaps "e can% ho"ever% 5artic(late6 "ith h(mans an (nh(mans in a social relationship% "hich for (s is al"a's lang(age2me iate *among other semiotic% i)e)% 5meaningf(l%6 me iations0) F(t% for o(r (nli+e partners% "ell% the action is 5 ifferent%6 perhaps 5negative6 from o(r ling(istic point of vie"% $(t cr(cial to the generativit' of the collective) p)3-3 This "orl m(st al"a's $e artic(late % from people@s points of vie"% thro(gh 5sit(ate +no"le ges6 *Hara"a'% -.EE, -..-0) These +no"le ges are frien l' to science% $(t o not provi e an' gro(n s for histor'2escaping inversions an amnesia a$o(t ho" artic(lations get ma e% a$o(t their political semiotics% if 'o( "ill) I thin+ the "orl is precisel' "hat gets lost in

octrines of representation an scientific o$7ectivit') It is $eca(se I care a$o(t 7ag(ars% among other actors% incl( ing the overlapping $(t non2i entical gro(ps calle forest peoples an ecologists% that I re7ect Koe Gane@s C(estion) >ome science st( ies scholars have $een terrifie to critici=e their constr(ctivist form(lations $eca(se the onl' alternative seems to $e some retrogra e +in of 5going $ac+6 to nat(re an to philosophical realism)3E F(t a$ove all people% these scholars sho(l +no" that 5nat(re6 an 5realism6 are precisel' the conseC(ences of representational practices) Where "e nee to move is not 5$ac+6 to nat(re% $(t else"here% thro(gh an "ithin an artifact(al social nat(re% "hich these ver' scholars have helpe to ma+e e?pressa$le in c(rrent Western scholarl' practice) p)3-< His representational practice% signifie $' his (se of the latest technolog'% places him in the realm of the mo ern) He is% then% engage in an entertaining contra iction B the preservation of an (nmo ern "a' of life "ith the ai of incongr(o(s mo ern technolog') F(t% from the perspective of a political semiotics of artic(lation% the man might "ell $e forging a recent collective of h(mans an (nh(mans% in this case ma e (p of the Ga'apo% vi eocams% lan % plants% animals% near an istant a( iences% an other constit(ents, $(t no $o(n ar' violation is involve ) p)3-8 At first sight% the T2shirt "orn $' anti2n(clear emonstrators at the Mother@s an Others@ Da' Action in -.E4 at the Lnite >tates@s Neva a n(clear test site seems in simple opposition to HAM in his electronic cra le *Aig(re .0) F(t a little (npac+ing sho"s the promising semiotic an political comple?it' of the image an of the action) When the T2shirt "as sent to the printer% the name of the event "as still the Mother@s Da' Action%6 $(t not long after some planning participants o$7ecte ) Aor man'% Mother@s Da' "as% at $est% an am$ivalent time for a "omen@s action) The over etermine gen er co ing of patriarchal n(clear c(lt(re all too easil' ma+es "omen responsi$le for peace "hile men fi le "ith their angero(s "ar to's "itho(t semiotic issonance) With its commercialism an m(lti2levele reinforcement of comp(lsor' heterose?(al repro (ction% Mother@s Da' is also not ever'$o '@s favorite feminist holi a') Aor others% intent 9en p)3-8% start p)3-E; on reclaiming the holi a' for other meanings% mothers% an $' e?tension "omen in general% o have a special o$ligation to preserve chil ren% an so the earth% from militar' estr(ction) Aor them% the earth is metaphoricall' mother an chil % an in $oth fig(rations% a s($7ect of n(rt(ring an $irthing) Ho"ever% this "as not an all2"omen@s *m(ch less all2mothers@0 action% altho(gh "omen organi=e an shape it) Arom isc(ssion% the esignation 5Mother@s an Others@ Da' Action6 emerge ) F(t then% some tho(ght that meant mothers an men) It too+ memor' e?ercises in feminist anal'sis to re+in le share conscio(sness that mother oes not eC(al "oman an vice versa) Part of the a'@s p(rpose "as to reco e Mother@s Da' to signif' men@s o$ligations to n(rt(re the earth an all its chil ren) In the spirit of this set of iss(es% at a time "hen Fa$' M an her man' e$ata$le B an (neC(all' positione B parents "ere in the ne"s an the co(rts% the all2female affinit' gro(p "hich I 7oine too+ as its name the >(rrogate Others) These s(rrogates "ere not (n erst( ies for man% $(t "ere gestating for another +in of emergence) p)3-E Arom the start% the event "as conceive as an action that lin+e social 7(stice an h(man rights% environmentalism% anti2militarism% an anti2n(clearism) On the T2shirt% there is% in ee % the perfect icon of the (nion of all iss(es (n er environmentalism@s r($ric: the 5"hole earth%6 the lovel'% clo( 2"rappe % $l(e% planet earth is sim(ltaneo(sl' a +in of fet(s floating in the

amniotic cosmos an a mother to all its o"n inha$itants% germ of the f(t(re% matri? of the past an present) It is a perfect glo$e% 7oining the changeling matter of mortal $o ies an the i eal eternal sphere of the philosophers) This snapshot resolves the ilemma of mo ernit'% the separation of >($7ect an O$7ect% Min an Fo ') There is% ho"ever% a 7arring note in all this% even for the most evo(t) That partic(lar image of the earth% of Nat(re% co(l onl' e?ist if a camera on a satellite ha ta+en the pict(re% "hich is% of co(rse% precisel' the case) Who spea+s for the earthM Airml' in the o$7ect "orl calle nat(re% this $o(rgeois% famil'2affirming snapshot of mother earth is a$o(t as (plifting as a loving commercial Mother@s Da' car ) An 'et% it is $ea(tif(l% an it is o(rs, it m(st $e $ro(ght into a ifferent foc(s) The T2shirt is part of a comple? collective entit'% involving man' circ(its% elegations% an isplacements of competencies) Onl' in the conte?t of the space race in the first place% an the militari=ation an commo ification of the "hole earth% oes it ma+e sense to relocate that image as the special sign of an anti2n(clear% anti2militaristic% earth2foc(se politics) The relocation oes not cancel its other resonances, it contests for their o(tcome) p)3-. The limitless reaches of o(ter space% 7oine to &ol War an post2&ol War n(clear technoscience% seem vastl' istant from their negation% the enclose an ar+ regions of the insi e of the h(man $o '% omain of the apparat(ses of $iome ical vis(ali=ation) F(t these t"o C(a rants of o(r semiotic sC(are are m(ltipl' tie together in technoscience@s heterogeneo(s apparat(ses of $o il' pro (ction) p)3// !i+e non2violent irect action an environmentalism% imm(ne s'stem isco(rse is a$o(t the (neC(all' istri$(te chances of life an eath) >ince sic+ness an mortalit' are at the heart of imm(nolog'% it is har l' s(rprising that con itions of $attle prevail) D'ing is not an eas' matter cr'ing o(t for 5frien l'6 vis(ali=ation) F(t $attle is not the onl' "a' to fig(re the process of mortal living) Persons coping "ith the life2threatening conseC(ences of infection "ith the HIH vir(s have insiste that the' are living "ith AID>% rather than accepting the stat(s of victims *or prisoners of "arM0) >imilarl'% la$orator' scientists also have $(ilt research programs $ase on non2militaristic% relational em$o iments% rather than on the capa$ilities of the efen e self of atomic in ivi (als) The' o this in or er to constr(ct I> artic(lations more effectivel'% not in or er to $e nice fol+s "ith pacifist metaphors) p)3/< >o% if the tree of +no"le ge cannot $e for$i en% "e ha all $etter learn ho" to eat an fee each other "ith a little more savv') That is the iffic(lt process $eing engage $' PWAs% Pro7ect Inform% A&T LP% NIH% clinical practitioners% an man' more actors tr'ing to $(il responsi$le mechanisms for pro (cing effective +no"le ge in the AID> epi emic)<. Lna$le to police the same $o(n aries separating insi ers an o(tsi ers% the "orl of $iome ical research "ill never $e the same again) The changes range across the epistemological% the commercial% the 7(ri ical% an the spirit(al omains) Aor e?ample% "hat is the stat(s of +no"le ge pro (ce thro(gh the ne" com$inations of ecision2ma+ing in e?perimental esign that are challenging previo(s research conventionsM What are the conseC(ences of the sim(ltaneo(s challenges to e?pert monopol' of +no"le ge an insistence on $oth the rapi improvement of the $iome ical +no"le ge $ase an the eC(ita$le mass istri$(tion of its fr(itsM Ho" "ill the patentl' amo ern h'$ri s of healing practices coha$it in the emerging social $o 'M An % "ho "ill live an ie as a res(lt of these ver' non2innocent practicesM

p)3/< Artic(lation is not a simple matter) !ang(age is the effect of artic(lation% an so are $o ies) The artic(late are 7ointe animals, the' are not smooth li+e the perfect spherical animals of Plato@s origin fantas' in the Timae(s) The artic(late are co$$le together) It is the con ition of $eing artic(late) I rel' on the artic(late to $reathe life into the artifact(al cosmos of monsters that this essa' inha$its) Nat(re ma' $e speechless% "itho(t lang(age% in the h(man sense, $(t nat(re is highl' artic(late) Disco(rse is onl' one process of artic(lation) An artic(late "orl has an (n eci a$le n(m$er of mo es an sites "here connections can $e ma e) The s(rfaces of this +in of "orl are not frictionless c(rve planes) Lnli+e things can $e 7oine B an li+e things can $e $ro+en apart B an vice versa) A(ll of sensor' hairs% envaginations% invaginations% an in entations% the s(rfaces "hich interest me are issecte $' 7oints) >egmente inverte$rates% the artic(late are insectoi an "orm2li+e% an the' inform the inflame imaginations of >A filmma+ers an $iologists) In o$solete :nglish% to artic(late meant to ma+e terms of agreement) Perhaps "e sho(l live in s(ch an 5o$solete%6 amo ern "orl again) To artic(late is to signif') It is to p(t things together% scar' things% ris+' things% contingent things) I "ant to live in an artic(late "orl ) We artic(late, therefore% "e are) Who 5I6 am is a ver' limite % in the en less perfection of *clear an istinct0 >elf2contemplation) Lnfair as al"a's% I thin+ of it as the para igmatic ps'choanal'tic C(estion) 5Who am IM6 is a$o(t *al"a's (nreali=a$le0 i entit', al"a's "o$$ling% it still pivots on the la" of the father% the sacre image of the same) >ince I am a moralist% the real C(estion m(st have more virt(e: "ho are 5"e6M That is an inherentl' more open C(estion% one al"a's rea ' for contingent% friction2generating artic(lations) It is a remonstrative C(estion) pp)3/323/< In optics% the virt(al image is forme $' the apparent% $(t not act(al% convergence of ra's) The virt(al seems to $e the co(nterfeit of the real, the virt(al has effects $' 9:ND p)3/<; seeming% not $eing) Perhaps that is "h' 5virt(e6 is still given in ictionaries to refer to "omen@s chastit'% "hich m(st al"a's remain o($tf(l in patriarchal optical la") F(t then% 5virt(e6 (se to mean manl' spirit an valor too% an #o even name an or er of angels the Hirt(es% tho(gh the' "ere of onl' mi ling ran+) >till% no matter ho" $ig the effects of the virt(al are% the' seem someho" to lac+ a proper ontolog') Angels% manl' valor% an "omen@s chastit' certainl' constit(te% at $est% a virt(al image from the point of vie" of late t"entieth2cent(r' 5postmo erns)6 Aor them% the virt(al is precisel' not the real, that@s "h' 5postmo erns6 li+e 5virt(al realit')6 It seems transgressive) Yet% I can@t forget that an o$solete meaning of 5virt(al6 "as having virt(e% i)e)% the inherent po"er to pro (ce effects) 5Hirt(e%6 after all% is e?cellence or merit% an it is still a common meaning of virt(e to refer to having efficac') The 5virt(e6 of something is its 5capacit')6 The virt(e of *some0 foo is that it no(rishes the $o ') Hirt(al space seems to $e the negation of real space, the omains of >A seem the negation of earthl' regions) F(t perhaps this negation is the real ill(sion) p)3/E The final image of this e?cessive essa' is &'$org% a -.E. painting $' !'nn Ran olph% in "hich the $o(n aries of a fatall' transgressive "orl % r(le $' the >($7ect an the O$7ect% give "a' to the $or erlan s% inha$ite $' h(man an (nh(man collectives *Aig(re -/0IThe painting maps the artic(lations among cosmos% animal% h(man% machine% an lan scape in their rec(rsive si ereal% $on'% electronic% an geological s+eletons) Their com$inatorial logic is em$o ie , theor' is corporeal, social nat(re is artic(late)

p)3/4 In this painting% she em$o ies the still o?'moronic sim(ltaneo(s stat(ses of "oman% 5Thir Worl 6 person% h(man% organism% comm(nications technolog'% mathematician% "riter% "or+er% engineer% scientist% spirit(al g(i e% lover of the :arth) This is the +in of 5s'm$olic action6 transnational feminisms have ma e legi$le) >/he is not finishe ) p)3/. Ran olph@s c'$org is in conversation "ith Trinh Minh2ha@s inappropriate/ other% the personal an collective $eing to "hom histor' has for$i en the strategic ill(sion of self2i entit') This c'$org oes not have an Aristotelian str(ct(re, an there is no master2slave ialectic resolving the str(ggles of reso(rce an pro (ct% passion an action) >/he is not (topian nor imaginar', s/he is virt(al) #enerate % along "ith other c'$orgs% $' the collapse into each other of the technical% organic% m'thic% te?t(al% an political% s/he is constit(te $' artic(lations of critical ifferences "ithin an "itho(t each fig(re)