The Modularity of Belonging: How to be All Along

Contemporary belonging as a synthetic form of human experience and artefacts, which can raise tensions in its theoretical clarity and consequent practice of being all along. In pursuit of a cognitive clarity, this paper proposes a modular framework of six possible and inclusive types of belonging. These types can be arranged and re-arranged modules to form and practice belonging in a more totalised form. First is the existential belonging. Its routes on the psychology of do I feel wanted? Because being in-need and valued gives one a confidence of inclusion. Second, is the relational belonging, that responses to the question of am I recognized as a member. This module stands on the web of social relationships which re-enforces to be along or not in a group and thus appeal to social validation.  Third, is the structural belonging, emerges from the power of boundary making. It echo to the question of am I entitled to belong? It also seeking a compliance to power distributed in structures. Fourth, is the symbolic belonging, which is achieved when one feels-in to have roles in the cultural narratives and can have a positive answer for the question of is my identity meaningful in the narratives?  Fifth is the temporal-spatial belonging. It answers to the question of when and where I feel at home. The attachment to a time-space develops a confidence of being part of the sphere. Lastly, the artefactual belonging, when belonging happens through belongings and answers what connects me materially? From tangible archaeological artefacts to the contemporary digital artefacts from a contemporary belonging experience. This typology of belonging can be perceived as not the theoretical forms but as co-existing modules to achieve more holistic inclusions.