This text discusses the concept of the rhizome in post-structuralism, as introduced by Deleuze and Guattari in their book A Thousand Plateaus. A rhizome is a nonlinear network that connects any point to any other point, with no apparent order or hierarchy. It is a mode of knowledge and a model for society that allows for multiple, non-hierarchical entry and exit points in data representation and interpretation. The rhizome is contrasted with arborescent thinking, which is characterized by totalizing principles, binarism, and dualism. The rhizome presents history and culture as a map of attractions and influences, resisting chronology and organization.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhizome as a concept in post-structuralism | Shift from hierarchical to non-hierarchical knowledge structures | Increased use of non-hierarchical networks for knowledge representation and interpretation | Desire for multiple entry and exit points in data |
| Rhizome as a model for society | Shift from arborescent to rhizomatic models | More emphasis on horizontal and non-hierarchical connections in society | Critique of totalizing principles and dualistic thinking |
| Rhizome as a mode of knowledge | Shift from linear progress to non-linear growth | Adoption of nomadic systems of growth and propagation | Resistance to chronology and organization |
| Rhizomatic reading and hypertext | Redistribution of knowledge networks | Intuitive organization of information based on collective interests | Rhizomatic growth and multiplicity driven by diverse interests |
| Principles of connection and heterogeneity | Emphasis on connectivity and multiplicity | Increased emphasis on connections between diverse points | Desire for a more inclusive and interconnected knowledge system |
| Principle of asignifying rupture | Persistence and reemergence of rhizomatic connections | Continuity of rhizomatic growth on old or new lines | Resistance to rigid structures and generative models |
| Principle of cartography and decalcomania | Focus on experimentation and contact with the real | Emphasis on mapping rather than tracing | Desire to explore new possibilities and interactions with the environment |
| Arborescent thinking | Critique of linear progress and dualistic metaphysics | Shift towards open-ended and constantly changing thinking | Criticism of totalizing principles and binarism |