EUGÈNE IONESCO’S RHINOCEROS AND THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA MOB MENTALITY: SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY AND DELEUZE AND GUATTARI’S PHILOSOPHY
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Abstract
Eugène Ionesco’s "Rhinoceros" offers a profound exploration of societal pressures and the dissolution of individual identity through the metaphor of humans transforming into rhinoceroses. This paper investigates the play’s contemporary relevance, proposing that it presages the mechanisms of identity manipulation and collective behavior dynamics evident in today’s digital age. Utilizing Henri Tajfel and John Turner’s Social Identity Theory alongside Deleuze and Guattari’s philosophical constructs of deterritorialization and reterritorialization from A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia, the study contends that "Rhinoceros" acts as a prescient commentary on how social media platforms manipulate social identity to cultivate group conformity. By analyzing the characters’ transformations and the resultant societal shifts within the play, this research highlights the parallels between Ionesco’s narrative and the current phenomena of online mob mentality. The study aims to elucidate the intricate interplay between personal alienation and the evolving landscape of digital social spaces, providing a critical perspective on the pervasive influence of social media on identity and behavior.
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