objectsagainst

Objectsagainst is a term used in discussions of material agency to describe the phenomenon whereby objects exert influence that opposes or complicates human intentions. Though not a fixed theory, the notion is used as a heuristic to analyze how material entities, from everyday tools to infrastructure, participate in shaping outcomes rather than merely enabling them. The phrase emphasizes a shift from viewing objects as passive instruments to viewing them as agents with their own tendencies.

Objectsagainst highlights the reciprocal relationship between agents and artifacts. It suggests that an object's design, material properties, wear, and context can resist, redirect, or destabilize planned action. This stance is common in studies inspired by actor-network theory and object-oriented ontology, where agency is distributed and not limited to human actors.

Applications of the concept occur across design, anthropology, HCI, and literary analysis. For example, a tool that jams or a software workflow that forces a user to adapt reveals objectsagainst dynamics; infrastructure failures in adverse conditions can reveal the limits of intended use; everyday objects often reveal frictions that illuminate design choices and social expectations.

Related terms include material agency, object-oriented ontology, and actor-network theory. See also discussions of affordances, misbehavior in design, and resilience engineering. While objectsagainst is not a formal theory on par with these traditions, it serves as a useful lens for examining how material reality can counter or complicate human plans.