Nathan Wittock, Michiel de Krom, Lesley Hustinx

Making Sense of a Messy Object: How to Use Social Topology as an Analytic Tool for Ethnography of Objects

Introduction

Making sense of a messy object: how to use social topology as an analytic tool for ethnography of objects. Explore social topology as a powerful analytic tool for ethnography of 'messy objects.' This essay provides an ontological framework to understand complex bio-objects like blood, overcoming perspectivalism.

Abstract

This theoretical-methodological essay seeks to answer the question, “How can one make sense of a messy object?” The denomination “messy” refers to a situation in which the object of ethnographic research is interpretatively complex to such a degree that the ethnographer may become trapped in the attempt to capture all of the various facets of the object at once (Law & Singleton, 2005). We focus on blood as a messy object and study it in the context of a Belgian Blood Establishment, the organization charged with the provision of safe and sufficient amounts of blood for a region. Existing research has dealt with the messiness of blood through epistemological response, casting it in four “blood stories” – the gift relationship, the blood economy, biological citizenship, and blood safety. While these stories have enhanced our understanding of blood, we argue that they are examples of perspectivalism (Mol, 2002). Although they do frame blood from various angles, they fail to grasp the entanglement of technological, biomedical, political, and socio-technical aspects of this “bio-object” (Vermeulen et al., 2012). This essay takes a different turn and attempts to mediate the difficulties by formulating an ontological response through careful consideration of the social topology framework (Law & Mol, 2001; Mol & Law, 1994). For every space (Euclidian, network, fluid, and fire), we provide a comprehensive summary of the theory, after which we delineate specific elements from this theory to induce conceptual sensitivity and propose research questions that follow from these elements. In this endeavor, we attempt to highlight the unique value of this framework for the ethnography of objects, as compared to the frameworks that initially gave rise to the theory.

Review

This theoretical-methodological essay presents an ambitious and timely intervention into the ethnographic study of "messy objects." Addressing the interpretive complexity that can overwhelm ethnographers, the authors propose social topology as an ontological framework to move beyond existing "perspectivalist" accounts. Focusing on blood within a Belgian Blood Establishment, the paper critiques the limitations of prevailing "blood stories"—the gift, economy, citizenship, and safety—arguing they fail to capture the multi-faceted entanglement of technological, biomedical, political, and socio-technical dimensions. The core contribution lies in advancing social topology as an analytical tool, offering a structured approach to making sense of such profoundly complex socio-material entities. A significant strength of this essay lies in its well-articulated theoretical foundation and the systematic way it intends to apply the social topology framework. By framing its response as *ontological* rather than merely *epistemological*, the authors promise a deeper engagement with the nature of the "bio-object" itself, moving beyond simply viewing it from different angles. The stated methodological approach—summarizing each topological space (Euclidian, network, fluid, fire), delineating specific elements, and proposing targeted research questions—is highly commendable. This structured guidance is invaluable for ethnographers grappling with the operationalization of complex theory, demonstrating a clear pathway to cultivating conceptual sensitivity and generating richer, more entangled insights into phenomena like blood. While the theoretical premise and methodological structuring are compelling, the true impact of this essay will depend on how effectively it equips ethnographers to *practically implement* and demonstrate the *superiority* of this ontological shift. The abstract promises to highlight the "unique value" of the framework, which will be crucial for convincing readers that social topology offers more than a sophisticated new vocabulary. Future empirical work stemming from this essay will need to concretely illustrate how insights derived from navigating these topological spaces yield a more comprehensive and less fragmented understanding of messy objects than previous approaches. Ethnographers might seek further guidance on navigating the transitions between these spaces in their fieldwork and integrating the diverse insights they generate. Nevertheless, this essay lays robust groundwork for a promising analytical trajectory, offering a sophisticated and much-needed tool for qualitative research into complex socio-material configurations.

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