In modern state societies, segmentarity is also apparent but tends to be more rigid. The relationship between segmentarity and centralization is significant; the state enforces its distinct segmentarity while classical biological oppositions serve as metaphors to contrast segmentarity and centralization. Within modern segmentarities, we can identify characteristics of rigid versus supple segmentarity. Rigid segmentarity features independent binary oppositions such as social classes, often propelled by technology, resulting in circular segmentarity forming concentric hierarchies, while linear segmentarity becomes standardized, homogenizing space into rigid structures that inhibit organic mobility. Conversely, supple segmentarity coexists with rigid segmentarity, allowing for fluid overlaps and distinctions of individual identities within collective frameworks, where both forms intertwine and affect one another amid complex societal dynamics.
The Refrain
The refrain embodies the ability to create a center amidst chaos, functioning as a structure that organizes space against chaos and serves as protective boundaries of order in its presence. A poignant example of this is a child who uses singing as a coping mechanism in dark, chaotic environments. This phenomenon highlights transitions that occur when the circle of order opens, where forces of the future become integrated into the refrain, indicating improvisation and exploration beyond established boundaries. The refrain thus encompasses three vital aspects: chaos, organization, and an escape towards potential. Its historical roots in territory and culture can be observed through bird songs that mark territory, as well as various musical structures serving analogous territorial functions. Musically, the relation between sound (the refrain) and space (territory) is critical, with the refrain acting as a bridge between chaos and structured expression.
Milieus and Rhythms
The concept of milieu refers to a coding of space-time through repeated components, creating a relationship between living beings and their environments. Every living being possesses an exterior environment filled with material resources, an interior composition made up of elements, and an intermediary connecting layer characterized by membranes and limits. Rhythm emerges as a reaction to chaos; it manipulates intervals and relations rather than aligning solely with regularity. Through rhythm, communication between different milieus fosters the formation of a cohesive society.
The War Machine's Position
The war machine exists in the intermediary space between the two poles, facilitating transitions between different forms of sovereignty. Examples include the magic sovereign who possesses binding powers contrasted with the king who utilizes legal frameworks for resolving conflicts. Myths, such as the Horatius Codes and Mucius Scaevola, illustrate this conflict and explore themes of war and the nature of capture.
The Smooth and the Striated
Concepts of Space
The distinction between smooth space and striated space plays a crucial role in understanding the dynamics of spatial organization. Smooth space is characterized by its nomadic, flexible, open, and constantly changing nature. In contrast, striated space is sedentary, rigid, organized, and defined by fixed boundaries. These spaces often exist in complex mixtures, where one can transform into another; for example, when organizing a desert (smooth), layers of striation are added.
The Relationship Between Smooth and Striated Spaces
In examining smooth and striated spaces, we find a dichotomy between de jure (theoretical) and de facto (practical) distinctions. While theory often separates the two, real-world observations reveal their mixed realities. Communication—or the lack thereof—between these spaces further highlights their intrinsic differences.
Models of Space
Several models illustrate the characteristics of smooth and striated spaces. The technological model emphasizes fabric characteristics, with two types of elements: mobile and fixed. This model parallels weaving where ‘warp’ represents fixed elements and ‘woof’ reflects mobility. Felt represents smooth space as it has an unlimited and open structure, while fabric denotes closed, defined spaces. The musical model by Pierre Boulez suggests that smooth space is occupied without counting, whereas striated space involves counting and organization, particularly in the distribution of frequencies, where types of breaks influence spatial organization. The maritime model examines the degree of striation where points and lines subordinate to trajectories of smooth spaces, as seen in sea navigation, which entails initial structuring demands based on latitudes and navigational techniques.
The Nature of Space
Perception varies in smooth and striated spaces. Smooth space is filled by events, affects, and forces and is primarily perception-driven, while striated space relates to visual properties, being structured by metrics and measurements. In terms of spatial models and geometry, Riemannian spaces introduce a multiplicity that is nonmetric and fluid. This leads to the distinction between metric, which refers to defined spaces with consistent dimensions, and nonmetric, which pertains to open, varying dimensions without set measures.
Dynamics of Work and Labor
The dynamics of work and labor also play a significant role. In the context of work as a model of striation, labor is organized within the state apparatus, defining space-time for the functionality of states and societies. Surplus labor arises only within contexts of striation and surplus production. Conversely, smooth spaces represent realms of non-work, illustrating free actions devoid of the need for labor or surplus, exemplified by societies displaying continuous variation.
Artistic Expressions
Art also reflects these concepts. In nomadic art, a distinction emerges between haptic and optical art; the former relates to close-range vision that aligns with smooth space, while the latter concerns long-distance perception that corresponds with striated space. Movement and representation are vital in understanding space, especially through abstract lines.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, smooth and striated spaces should not be viewed as static entities. Life constantly alternates between smooth spaces and striated spaces based on varying needs and conditions.
Art and science serve as vital arenas for exploring societal norms and dismantling traditional representations of desire. They enable reflective critique and reinterpretation of societal constructs. Instead of merely reinforcing established structures, art emerges as a space where revolutionary potentials can be examined, articulated, and critiqued, facilitating a broader understanding of human experience and aspiration.
Nomadic thought emphasizes the importance of movement, transformation, and the necessity of creating spaces for fluid identities that defy traditional structures of power and dominance.
Both games illustrate contrasting paradigms:
Chess embodies striated space with fixed entities aiming for dominance.
Go operates within smooth space, emphasizing continuous movement and the dynamic interplay of strategies.
Space, Movement, and Territory
The nature of space occupied by nomadic communities showcases distinct characteristics:
Sedentary Space: Often striated, comprising walls, enclosures, and regulated interactions, leading to a structured and ordered social fabric.
Nomadic Space: Characterized as smooth, it allows for fluidity and adaptability in response to environmental changes, such as terrain shifts due to climate change or the encroachment of deserts.
Distinction between Speed and Movement
Speed: Represented as an intensive quality where a particular state of being fills a given space - often linked to the availability of resources or manpower.
Originating as a nomadic invention, the war machine flourishes in smooth spaces that are essential for sustaining its existence. The foundational goal is to maintain and control these spaces as opposed to engaging in outright warfare.
