The Empire of The Map and the Territory

Abstract

Novel „The Map and the Territory” by Michael Houellebecq can be interpreted in the perpective of biopolitical models. Initiated by Foucault, biopolitical models were developed among others by Hardt and Negri. Action, storytelling and pastishes used in ‚The Map and the Territory show that values of „the Empire“ influence the construction oft the novel on different levels. The Empire controlls the Multitude, to produce the capital. In the novel can be seen different types of material and immaterial work, described by Hardt and Negri. Similarly to the vision of Empire, in the novel differences between nature and culture vanish, while the society becomes more and more diversified and unpredictble. Other biopolitical models can be usefull in interpreting the novel as well.