Exploring rhizomatic constructions

Exploring examples of rhizomatic constructions, I found a PDF copy by author Margaret Carmody Hagood of her Chapter 7 ' A Rhizomatic Cartography of Adolescents, popular Culture and Constructions of self'  (1)She explains how she uses Deluze and Guatarri's rhizomatic cartography method in her studies.


' According to Deluze and Guatarri (1987), the rhizome has certain characteristics, which include in rhizomatic cartography 


1. Points on a rhizome need to connect to something else
2. Rhizomes are heterogenous not dichotomous
3. Rhizomes are made up of a multiplicity of lines that extend in all direction.
4. Rhizomes break off, but they begin again wither where they were before or on a new line.
5. Rhizomes are not models they have no deep structure
6.  Rhizomes are maps with multiple entryways.



Built off the concept of a Rhizome,rhizomatic cartography works as a figuration of a rhizome, which differs from using a rhizome as a metaphor.  A figuration is an analytical tool used in work influenced by poststructural theory to move beyond coding and categorising data in order to re-describe and to represent concepts differently.  It is similar to a metaphor in that both are implemented to improve understandings of a concept; yet unlike a metaphor, a figuration attempts to provide freeing ways to think about a concept by attending to the complexity inherent within it.......Rhizomatic Cartography is an analysis perhaps best described as one of coming and going, of offshoots and new directions.  By definition, rhizomes constantly shift and change, growing simultaneously in all direction..


When I did the Collection 100 brief last year this started with 100 album covers, and the research evolved into exploring lots of different links between Graphic designers, sub and counter cultures, photographers, musicians and the media including magazines like Frendz, International Times and NME. 


I started mapping this data out in quite a linear fashion across time as attached:

The data had become quite unmanageable so I decided to focus on one Graphic designer who had lots of links and influences; Barney Bubbles.  This was the Infographic of Barney's work, life and people he inspired.

Considering Deluze and Guattari's Rhizomatic analysis of identity I think it would be interesting to analyse the links between music, media and art sector in a Rhizomatic map.  The links and influences are certainly more in keeping with the Rhizome's definition 'constantly shifing and changing, growing simultaneously in all directions...'


(1) Leander K and Sheey M,2004, Spatializing Literay Research and Theory, New York, Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles, Frankfurt am Main, Oxford, Wien, Peter Lang Publishing