Intensity is a central concept in Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophy, particularly in their works such as A Thousand Plateaus and Anti-Oedipus. Intensity refers to a fundamental quality of experience, processes, and phenomena that is distinct from measurable quantities or fixed states. It is tied to difference, becoming, and the dynamic forces of life. Below is a breakdown of what they mean by intensity:
1. Intensity as Difference in Itself
• For Deleuze and Guattari, intensity is linked to difference that is not derived from comparison but exists in itself. This builds on Deleuze’s earlier work in Difference and Repetition.
• Intensity is a qualitative difference, such as the experience of heat or cold, brightness or darkness, rather than a quantitative measurement like temperature in degrees.
2. Intensity and the Virtual
• Intensity operates on the virtual plane, which is not directly actualized or measurable but underpins the processes that give rise to actual states.
• For example, an intense potential exists in the moments before a storm, in the pressure, energy, and dynamic forces at play, even if the storm hasn’t yet materialized.
3. Intensity as Becoming
• Intensity is always in process; it is about change, transformation, and becoming.
• It is not static but is defined by flows and thresholds, such as the build-up of tension leading to a release (e.g., a scream, an explosion, or an emotional outburst).
4. Intensity in Assemblages
• In their concept of assemblages, Deleuze and Guattari describe how intensities flow through systems or connections, transforming and reconfiguring them.
• For example, in social or political contexts, moments of intense energy can disrupt established orders or produce entirely new forms of organization.
5. Intensity and the Body
• Intensity is deeply tied to the body and sensation:
• It is the level at which the body experiences forces—pleasure, pain, fatigue, excitement—before these are categorized or represented.
• Intensity is raw and unmediated, the realm of affects and sensations.
6. Intensity and the Desiring-Machines
• In Anti-Oedipus, intensity is crucial in the functioning of desiring-machines:
• Desiring-machines connect flows of energy, producing and consuming intensities.
• Intensity is what moves and motivates desire, not as a lack (as in psychoanalysis) but as a productive force.
7. Intensity and the Plane of Immanence
• Intensity operates on the plane of immanence, a flat ontology where everything is interconnected and continuously shifting.
• On this plane, intensity expresses the pure potential of forces, flows, and processes before they are stratified into forms, systems, or identities.
8. Examples of Intensity
• Natural phenomena: The heat of the sun, the pressure of a storm, or the intensity of light.
• Human experiences: The sharpness of pain, the rush of joy, or the swell of anger.
• Art: Abstract art or music often captures intensity directly, bypassing representation to create immediate affects.
• Politics: Moments of revolution or protest are marked by intense flows of energy that disrupt established structures.
9. Intensity and Stratification
• Intensity is often in tension with stratification (structured, organized systems). It resists being reduced to rigid categories or systems of control.
• Deleuze and Guattari emphasize the transformative power of intensity to break through stratified systems and create new potentials for life and thought.
Summary
For Deleuze and Guattari, intensity is the dynamic, qualitative, and transformative force that underlies processes of becoming, connection, and creation. It is tied to the raw energy of life and thought, operating on a plane of immanence where everything is in flux. Intensity resists stratification and representation, driving the disruptions and innovations that fuel art, politics, and philosophy.
