Ian Buchanan’s The Incomplete Project of Schizoanalysis: Collected Essays on Deleuze and Guattari (2021) is a comprehensive collection of 20 essays written over two decades, offering an in-depth exploration of Deleuze and Guattari’s schizoanalysis. The book is organized into five thematic sections—Method, Film, Space, Analysis, and Assemblages—each examining different facets of schizoanalysis and its applications across various disciplines.
Method: Clarifying Schizoanalysis and the Body without Organs
Buchanan begins by elucidating the nature of schizoanalysis, contrasting it with Freudian psychoanalysis. While Freud’s approach often reduces psychological phenomena to Oedipal structures, schizoanalysis is presented as a non-reductive method that embraces complexity and multiplicity. Drawing on thinkers like Proust and Nietzsche, Buchanan characterizes schizoanalysis as a form of “meta-modelling” that captures dynamic systems and affective associations.
A central concept discussed is the “body without organs” (BwO), which Buchanan interprets as a complex multiplicity encompassing both virtual and actual phases. The BwO serves as a dynamic limit to relational formations, resisting fixed structures and enabling the emergence of new assemblages. Buchanan emphasizes that the BwO’s function evolves relative to its context, highlighting its role in facilitating transformative processes.
Film: Schizoanalysis and Cinematic Assemblages
In the section on film, Buchanan applies schizoanalysis to cinema, proposing five theses for a schizoanalytic approach to film analysis. He argues that films function as assemblages that produce a range of immaterial affects, making them ideal subjects for schizoanalytic exploration. By examining both mainstream and art-house films, Buchanan demonstrates how cinema can express desire and generate qualitative differences that captivate viewers.
Space: Political Dimensions and the War Machine
Buchanan delves into the political implications of schizoanalysis by examining concepts like the “war machine” and the capitalist axiomatic. He discusses how capitalism’s expansive nature leads to the commodification of various aspects of life, often enforced through militaristic means. By analyzing spatial phenomena such as non-places and control societies, Buchanan illustrates how schizoanalysis can uncover the underlying power structures shaping contemporary spaces.
Analysis: Internet, Education, and Literary Criticism
Exploring the application of schizoanalysis to modern contexts, Buchanan considers the internet as a rhizomatic structure akin to the BwO, emphasizing its role in transforming human consciousness and society. He also connects schizoanalysis to Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, advocating for educational systems that empower individuals to liberate themselves from oppressive structures. Additionally, Buchanan applies schizoanalytic concepts to literary criticism, offering new perspectives on textual analysis.
Assemblages: Everyday Practices and Subject Formation
In the final section, Buchanan examines various assemblages, including the “Clutter Assemblage,” the “Little Hans Assemblage,” and the “Self-Help Assemblage.” These essays explore how everyday practices and therapeutic models function as assemblages that influence subject formation. By analyzing these configurations, Buchanan demonstrates the versatility of schizoanalysis in addressing diverse aspects of human experience.
Overall, The Incomplete Project of Schizoanalysis offers a nuanced and expansive exploration of Deleuze and Guattari’s concepts, showcasing the applicability of schizoanalysis across multiple domains. Buchanan’s work serves as both an introduction for newcomers and a deep dive for seasoned scholars interested in the ongoing relevance of schizoanalytic thought.