A Thousand Plateaus-Gille Deleuze and Félis Fuatarri

SUMMARY-

In the introduction to A Thousand Plateaus, Gille Deleuze and Félis Fuatarri use pseudonyms in describing the way human knowledge is spread through literature. They describe a book as a machine and literature as an assemblage, but not ideology (407). They say there is no difference in how a book is made and what it talks about. Writing is measured by units, which define writing as “the measure of something else” (408). They compare books to trees and their root systems, and also to the reproduction of roots. The way in which the books/roots multiple is compared with binary logic and biunivocal relationships. Starting with the first book as a classical book or the root-book or taproot and all other books stemming from here. With the classical book as the foundation, all of literature comes from here and is somehow a reflection of the book prior. They state, “the world has become chaos, but the book remains the image of the world” (409). This relates to how the book is made (time) and how it is reflected in the work. They end the article with this kind of system being compared to a rhizome. They say that a rhizome can be good, but also bad; and also, that it is not composed of units but rather of dimensions (“directions in motions”) that relate to change such as a metamorphosis. They continure to describe a rhizome as not only an antigenealogy, but also an antimemory.

INQUIRY-

The way in which Duleuse and Fruatarri use the rhizome metaphor at the end of the introduction helps show the development process in which humans communicate knowledge through literature. They start out by comparing literature (in the form of books) to the root system on a tree (408). The main root (taproot) is the first literature—classical writing. From there, books were written in response to books previously published. A system was created, but is continually growing. This corresponds to the non-stop publication of books and how after they are published they become outdated since there is no communication between the text and the reader. Finally, they use the rhizome to address the Internet. It cannot be measured by units since units are constant, but rather has to undergo a metamorphosis because the Internet allows for the media to be changed—this is why it is an antimemory. The functions the Internet has such as hypertext or social interaction can also be compared to a rhizome. These forms of new media allow not only for change, but also have very few limitations. When analyzed with books (roots), there is no comparison in the amount of options that the Internet (rhizomes) gives.

1. Do you agree with the way they present books, in which “a book exists only through the outside and on the outside” and “a book has neither object nor subject, but that it is made of variously formed matters, and very different dates and speeds” (407).

2. Why do you think that they used the tree/root system and rhizome to compare literature? Can you think of a better/different example that would communicate the same ideas?

3. Through their arguments on the development of literature, what can you conclude about their thoughts on future forms of new media in relation to literature?

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Autistic Culture Online-Joyce Davidson

SUMMARY-

Autistic Culture Online by Joyce Davidson gives non-autistic people a better idea of how people on the Autistic Spectrum (AS) communicate and how the Internet has benefited its members. She uses autobiographies as examples to help the reader understand the life of an AS person. Davidson uses these examples to defend her idea that being autistic is a way of life that can be compared to any other minority group, rather than a disability (795). Like any other minority group, AS people often receive discrimination as a result of being commonly misunderstood (799). However, the AS has great diversity because it is composed of a wide spectrum of culture (800). AS people live with social norms and unwritten rules, as any other culture has. Davidson stresses how the Internet has changed the relationships amongst the people in the AS. One of the main characteristics of autistic people is a difficulty with communicating face-to-face. The Internet has given members of the AS not only a way to communicate naturally, but also a way in which they can meet new people, and function on “a level playing field with almost everyone else” (801). Because “autistic culture today is largely where deaf culture was a century ago,” it will take time before people on the AS are culturally accepted and new media is used on a larger scale in order to aid the AS.

INQUIRY-

I have never thought about the AS or what it would be like to live being autistic. I found this article to be very interesting and insightful on how our society views AS people. I agree with Davidson that the people in the AS do not have a disability, but are rather a part of a minority group. This article helped me better understand the AS community and the challenges that autistic people face; also, how they overcome these challenges. This article shows how new media is being used to help improve AS people’s lives. The Internet has given the world a fast way to communicate with others without direct contact. I believe that this new medium has not only benefited its users, but it has also created a new world for AS people in which the can communicate better; this has improve their lifestyle and have given them confidence to identify with being autistic.

1. Do you think that the communication acquired through the Internet for AS people would help them gain social skills/confidence to succeed or hinder their ability to communicate face-to-face as they rely to heavily on the Internet for communication?

2. Davidson states that “autistic culture today is largely where deaf culture was a century ago” (801) With this in mind, where do you think online autistic communities/new media will lead to in the future to improve the lives’ of AS people?

3. What was your response to this article? Did you have a bias against AS people and how did this article change (or not change) that? If you know someone that is autistic, what is it like communicating with him or her; and do you believe that the Internet is a better form of communication for an autistic person?

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