Can you forgive me if I begin again?
There are single things, which can be either simple or complex.
Simple things cannot be decomposed further. Nothing at human scale is simple. At the smallest scale, the notion of simplicity becomes complex itself. Apparently simple constituent elements – atoms, particles, etc. – only attain simplicity within the context of their positioning in a field, so can they properly be conceived as simple, discrete things?
Complex things can be decomposed into further things. Complex things can be simple or complex.
Simple complex things are composed of clearly identifiable constituent things. A numerical set is a simple complex thing that is composed of a collection of numbers. A chemical compound is a simple complex thing in which a number of discrete chemicals enter a macro-level relation. Arguably, a compound is more complex than a set because the individual elements enter into combination, rather than remaining discretely configured.
Complex complex things are not composed of discretely determined constituent things. Everything within a complex complex thing is itself a complex complex thing. Futhermore, the various things do not enter into a single relation. There is neither a set nor a compound. The overall relation is itself complex and ultimately indeterminable. The complex complex thing is only provisionally a thing. It contains a variety of things and is itself various.
An assemblage – conceived as a form – is a type of complex complex thing. Its special character is a sense of juxtaposition. The various constituent complex complex things brought together within its problematic identity lack organic relation. They grew up elsewhere, but have now been thrust together. There is always within assemblage a sense of disjuncture and imposition.