tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33273315.post8517606343292809722..comments2023-07-16T04:38:04.407-05:00Comments on Spinuzzi: Reading :: A Theory of PowerClay Spinuzzihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356273383001825508noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33273315.post-47102120845503417942010-05-15T15:03:35.177-05:002010-05-15T15:03:35.177-05:00Jeff, thanks so much for weighing in. I'll def...Jeff, thanks so much for weighing in. I'll definitely look forward to that next book! CSClay Spinuzzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13356273383001825508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33273315.post-43573949054326811382010-05-15T10:59:05.667-05:002010-05-15T10:59:05.667-05:00Hi Clay,
Thanks for making me think critically ab...Hi Clay,<br /><br />Thanks for making me think critically about some of my past writing. 6 years older and (maybe?) wiser, your critiques are remarkably similar to my own.<br /><br />On specifics:<br /><br />- I agree that my use of "rhizome" and D&G's is fairly dissimilar. I'm OK with that, but agree that I've done a poor job calling out the differences. For me, rhizome is a label for scale-free self-sufficiency arising out of massivley parallel and overlapping peer-to-peer networks. I think there are more similarities there to D&G's concept than might be readily apparent, but also some significant differences...<br /><br />- It was not (and is not) my intent to juxtapose "hierarchy" and "rhizome" as completely separate modes of organization, though again probably something I did not adequately explain. My intent is that hierarchy and rhizome are two directions (rather than poles) on a continuum that describe one axis of any system. Very generally, I think movement of any system in a rhizome direction creates greatly amplified and positive results in several measures (mostly measures of potential: sustainability, equality, freedom, resiliency, etc.).<br /><br />My current project (hopefully a bit less of an attempt at a theory of everything, but that's a challenge for me to resist!) is a book updating my thoughts on the <a href="http://www.jeffvail.net/2007/02/problem-of-growth.html" rel="nofollow">Problem of Growth</a>.<br /><br />-JeffJeff Vailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09318052406335877138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33273315.post-14646642486330883252010-05-14T21:10:03.147-05:002010-05-14T21:10:03.147-05:00Likewise Clay, I've started Bobbittt's The...Likewise Clay, I've started Bobbittt's The Shield of Achilles this week, having been inspired by your review (and David's non-reading of it in his latest post). Mucho gracias.Tom Haskinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12658791778134826289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33273315.post-34125799272199519582010-05-14T09:44:32.266-05:002010-05-14T09:44:32.266-05:00David and Tom - Thanks. Yes, I think Vail's at...David and Tom - Thanks. Yes, I think Vail's at his best in discussing networked resilient communities, as he does on his blog. The blog is interesting and enlightening in these terms, and so is the last chapter of the book. I think Tom's right that Vail's trying too hard to plug into a Theory of Everything, and David's right that consequently Vail thinks of rhizomes as an utterly clean break from hierarchy rather than another form that is usually hybridized with previous organizational forms. The book's actually been a clarifying moment for me as it's spurred me to think through why I disagree so much with that latter point.<br /><br />On a side note, Tom, I picked up Harman's <i>The Prince of Networks</i> based on your mention, and just finished reading it. You're right, it's strong work - thanks for pointing it out! I'll review it sometime soon.Clay Spinuzzihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13356273383001825508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33273315.post-775113407682310942010-05-13T20:20:53.505-05:002010-05-13T20:20:53.505-05:00Clay, I'm gratified you explored Vail's vo...Clay, I'm gratified you explored Vail's voice in A Theory of Power. I found his voice very difficult to read. I wondered if the book was an homage to a much admired professor, an attempt to legitimize himself as a theorist or some other hidden agenda that disregarded the reader. His writing on his blog is far more readable. <br /><br />Since then (2004), Vail has been litigating cases that arise from energy geopolitics for a Denver law firm. His more recent writing has explored what he's calling the diagonal economy, but that's been interrupted by the birth of a second daughter. He has become more sensitized to the entrenched power in hierarchies and repercussions of peak oil contractions which impede smooth transitions to rhizome-mode communities.Tom Haskinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12658791778134826289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33273315.post-71932745579227599312010-05-13T14:15:24.918-05:002010-05-13T14:15:24.918-05:00many good points, clay. i agree.
i've not re...many good points, clay. i agree.<br /><br />i've not read this book, but i have followed his blog a bit -- it's interesting -- and recently read his "the new map" (.pdf via his site) because it refers to bobbitt's market-state concept. <br /><br />in my timn view, that writing draws too sharp a distinction between hierarchies and rhizomes (networks), and seeks too big a replacement of the former by the latter. but at least his thinking is headed in network directions, which i appreciate.David Ronfeldthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488855410947866567noreply@blogger.com