Conclusion: Concrete Rules and Abstract Machines
Strata and Stratification
Strata are phenomena that involve thickening on the earth's surface and can be classified into three categories: physicochemical, which relates to the basic physical and chemical aspects of matter; organic, which involves biological life forms and their interactions; and anthropomorphic (alloplastic), which is concerned with human-made changes and structures. Each stratum comprises coded environments and formed substances that interact, producing diverse forms while still possessing a unity despite their diversity by maintaining common traits in their forms, substances, and codes.
Interstratic Phenomena
Strata are mobile and can intermix, leading to phenomena such as transcodings, which involve changing forms of energy or information between strata, and passages between milieux, referring to the movement of different entities or systems within and between environments. The stratification process mirrors the creation process from chaos, where classical artists organize forms, substances, and rhythms.
Articulation
Articulation is crucial as it involves the content, which is the substance being articulated, and expression, which is the form of articulation. Hjelmslev’s net illustrates how the interplay of content and expression occurs without direct correspondence, leading to a deeper understanding of their relationship.
Assemblages vs. Strata
Unlike strata, assemblages operate beyond solid structures and are marked by the extraction of territories from their environment, identifying territoriality as a foundation of assemblages. Assemblages yield unique relations between content and expression, fostering a dynamic semiotic system.
Deterritorialization and Lines of Flight
Deterritorialization refers to movement that relocates or transforms identity, often giving rise to reterritorializations, which are new affiliations or identities that emerge following this process. Lines of flight can be both positive, representing creative trajectories, or negative, denoting destructive forces that influence the overall context and evolution of assemblages.
Abstract Machines
Abstract machines are defined as entities that act within concrete assemblages and do not conform to traditional forms and substances. They operate through unformed matters and nonformal functions, representing dynamic relationships within systems. Abstract machines can open up assemblages to new types, facilitating transformations and creating becomings without clear boundaries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an integrated understanding of the concrete rules governing both strata and abstract machines reveals the complexity and interdependence of these systems. This analysis underscores the dynamic relational aspects of contemporary thought and the ongoing interplay between form, function, and meaning across various domains.
