Framing versus Transversality

The way in which our lives have been shaped and the reasons why we are where we are today is no doubt due to the framing of the aspects around us. One particularly large influence on our life which shapes our understanding of issues is the way the media is framed. The framing of the media and what is portrayed to the public is heavily affecting our lies and what we value in it. This is also related to the types of technologies that we are exposed to. Whether it be a newspaper, the television, computers or smart phones, the way we use these instruments and what is presented to us from them is all part of the framing of our lives.

In regards to transversality, there is quite a distinction between it and framing and the way it affects us. Andrew stated in the lecture that,

              “grasping as much from infinity as we can is TRANSVERSALITY, whereas rejecting infinity as much as we can in favour of what are known, given structures is FRAMING.”

Transversality can be defined as “a line that cuts across other lines, perhaps across entire fields – bringing the fields together in a new way, recreating fields as something else” (Murphie 2006). This concept can be used to help define the way in which aspects of our media, although separate, can be linked together.

Gary Genosko, adds to this idea as “he takes this question of transversality into an understanding of the dynamics of institutions”, where it leads to the reforming of institutions when new lines cross between older disciplines and cultural practices.

A modern day example of a transversal technology and one which we can all associate with is the organization of data in our music libraries. Today we simply log onto iTunes and can purchase a whole library of music that is specific to our favourite genres. This can also be associated as having a new set of framings as iTunes is a result of apple technology, which is what has consequently resulted in the decrease in CD shops. This “line” that links different fields can be an example of our own ecologies of practice as what we choose to do and our what our prior knowledge and understanding of issues are, leads us to be able to use media in the way can today.

References:

Genosko, Gary. Félix Guattari: An Aberrant Introduction (London and New York: Continuum, 2002)

Murphie, A 2006, 'Editorial'. The Fibreculure Journal. Issue 9, <http://nine.fibreculturejournal.org/>