Soffeh

Soffeh

A Review of the Philosophical Thoughts of Deleuze and Guattari on the Phenomenon of the City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Negin Samadi Kafi 1
Mojtaba Rafieian 2
Kaveh Rashidzadeh 3
Mahmud Rezaei 4
1 PhD Faculty of Art and Architecture, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
10.48308/soffeh.2025.233554.1296
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Drawing on the philosophical frameworks of Deleuze and Guattari, this study critically examines Assemblage Theory as articulated by Manuel DeLanda, with particular attention to its underexplored implications for urban analysis. The study pursues two main objectives. First, it seeks to establish a coherent and structured framework for the semantic and functional interrogation of key philosophical constructs in Deleuze and Guattari’s thought, specifically as they relate to urban phenomena. Second, it aims to re-evaluate Assemblage Theory by identifying conceptual gaps and offering a nuanced interpretive lens for understanding the city. By integrating these perspectives, the research contributes to a deeper and more comprehensive representation of urban realities.

Materials and Methods: This research adopts an emancipatory paradigm, combining rigorous logical reasoning with a hermeneutic approach aimed at uncovering latent meanings in both primary and secondary texts. The methodological foundation rests on extensive textual analysis of the works of Deleuze, Guattari, and DeLanda, enabling the systematic identification of overlooked dimensions within Assemblage Theory. Complementing this analysis, the study introduces an orgiastic representational approach, designed to capture the city’s semantic multiplicities and dynamic processes in ways not previously articulated in urban research.

Results and Conclusion: Findings indicate that Assemblage Theory conceptualises the city as an intricate phenomenon composed of both virtual and actual realities. This duality positions the city as a methodological space that is simultaneously structured and unstable, allowing researchers, designers, and urban managers to navigate its inherent complexities. Through the lens of assemblage, the city emerges as an abstract spatial system capable of history-making, place-making, idea generation, and cultivating diverse forms of being. Its threshold spaces function as intermediaries enabling the alignment and integration of extensive datasets, generating novel analytical and practical insights within urban studies. The research thus highlights the city’s potential as a dynamic and generative entity, whose ontological multiplicity can inform both theoretical inquiry and applied urban practice.
Keywords
Agencement
Assemblage
palimpsest
One-Multiplicity
Orgiastic Representation
Threshold.  
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 24 October 2023
  • Revise Date 16 September 2024
  • Accept Date 02 February 2025