A rhizome is a concept in

post-structuralism Post-structuralism is a philosophical movement that questions the objectivity or stability of the various interpretive structures that are posited by structuralism and considers them to be constituted by broader systems of Power (social and poli ...

describing an assemblage that allows connections between any of its constituent elements, regardless of any predefined ordering, structure, or entry point. It is a central concept in the work of French Theorists Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, who use the term frequently in their development of

schizoanalysis Schizoanalysis (''or'' ecosophy, pragmatics, micropolitics, rhizomatics, or nomadology) (; ''schizo-'' from Greek σχίζειν ''skhizein'', meaning "to split") is a set of theories and techniques developed by philosopher Gilles Deleuze and psy ...

. Deleuze and Guattari use the terms "

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...

" and "rhizomatic" (from Ancient Greek , , "mass of roots") to describe a network that "connects any point to any other point". The term is first introduced in Deleuze and Guattari's 1975 book '' Kafka: Toward a Minor Literature'' to suggest that Kafka's work is not bound by linear narrative structure, and can be entered into at any point to map out connections with other points. The term is heavily expanded upon in Deleuze and Guattari's 1980 work ''

A Thousand Plateaus ''A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia'' () is a 1980 book by the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze and the French psychoanalyst Félix Guattari. It is the second and final volume of their collaborative work '' Capitalism and Schizop ...

'', where it is used to refer to networks that establish "connections between

semiotic Semiotics ( ) is the systematic study of semiosis, sign processes and the communication of Meaning (semiotics), meaning. In semiotics, a Sign (semiotics), sign is defined as anything that communicates intentional and unintentional meaning or feel ...

chains, organizations of power, and circumstances relative to the arts, sciences and social struggles."

Opposition to arborescence

''Arborescent'' () refers to the shape and structure of a tree. In ''

'', the concept of rhizome is introduced through a botanical metaphor, which contrasts the rhizomatic character of underground root systems to the natural hierarchical ordering present in

trees In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only p ...

. Deleuze and Guattari extend this metaphor beyond botanical trees to the realm of abstract and

linguistic Linguistics is the scientific study of language. The areas of linguistic analysis are syntax (rules governing the structure of sentences), semantics (meaning), Morphology (linguistics), morphology (structure of words), phonetics (speech sounds ...

trees.

Approximate characteristics

In ''A Thousand Plateaus'', Deleuze and Guattari write that "The rhizome itself assumes very diverse forms... but we get the feeling that we will convince no one unless we enumerate certain approximate characteristics." These approximate characteristics are: *"1 and 2. Principles of connection and heterogeneity: any point of a rhizome can be connected to anything other, and must be. This is very different from the tree or root, which plots a point, fixes an order" *"3. Principle of multiplicity: it is only when the multiple is effectively treated as a substantive, "multiplicity," that it ceases to have any relation to the One as subject or object" *"4. Principle of asignifying rupture: against the oversignifying breaks separating structures or cutting across a single structure. A rhizome may be broken, shattered at a given spot, but it will start up again on one of its old lines, or on new lines" *"5 and 6. Principle of cartography and

decalcomania Decalcomania (from ) is a decorative technique by which engravings and prints may be transferred to pottery or other materials. A shortened version of the term is used for a mass-produced commodity, art transfer, or product label, known as a " ...

: a rhizome is not amenable to any structural or generative model. It is a stranger to any idea of genetic axis or deep structure."

References

{{Deleuze-Guattari Social networks Social theories Literary concepts Philosophical analogies Postmodern theory Félix Guattari Gilles Deleuze

Opposition to arborescence

Approximate characteristics

See also

References