Hello readers, this blog is part of an assignment assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir from the Department of English, MKBU. In this blog, I have tried to give answers to the following questions by watching the video. I also put a few questions that were raised in my mind while reading Derrida and Deconstruction
∆ Video 1 :
1.1 : Why is it difficult to define Deconstruction?
The difficulty in defining Deconstruction arises because Derrida questions its possibility, challenges fixed definitions, and refuses to provide a clear-cut definition due to our habituation for such definitions.
1.2 : Is Deconstruction a negative term?
Deconstruction is not necessarily a negative term. It involves an inquiry into the foundations of meaning and philosophical systems, and while it may appear destructive, it aims to transform the way people think.
1.3 : How does Deconstruction happen on its own?
Deconstruction can be said to happen on its own because the conditions that give meaning to a system also impose limitations on it. When the foundations of meaning are questioned and inquired into, these limitations are broken free, leading to the deconstruction of the institution or idea. In this way, deconstruction occurs naturally as a result of the inquiry into its own foundations.
∆ Video 2 :
2.1 : The influence of Heidegger on Derrida
The influence of Heidegger on Derrida was profound and far-reaching. Heidegger's philosophical ideas, particularly his notion of deconstruction and the questioning of the foundations of meaning, heavily influenced Derrida's development of the concept of Deconstruction.
2.2 : Derridean rethinking of the foundations of Western philosophy
The point that should be considered when thinking of Heideggerian influence on Derrida is:
→ Derrida himself acknowledged in the "Letter to a Japanese Friend" (1983) that he was influenced by Heidegger's concept of Destruktion or Abbau, which he adapted and translated to form the basis of his own concept of Deconstruction.
→ Heidegger's desire to 'dismantle' the entire tradition of Western philosophy by exploring the question of the being of beings also had an impact on Derrida's rethinking of the foundations of Western philosophy.
∆ Video 3 :
3.1 : Ferdinand de Saussureian concept of language (that meaning is arbitrary, relational, constitutive)
Derrida engages with Ferdinand de Saussure's concept of language, particularly the notion that meaning is arbitrary, relational, and constitutive. Saussure posited that the relationship between signifiers and their signified meanings is arbitrary and based on social conventions. Derrida builds upon this idea, but he also deconstructs it by arguing that language is not as stable or fixed as Saussure suggested. Derrida emphasizes the role of difference and deferral in the signification process, highlighting the complex and dynamic nature of meaning.
3.2 : How Derrida deconstruct the idea of arbitrariness?
Derrida deconstructs the idea of arbitrariness by challenging the traditional understanding that signs and meanings are arbitrarily linked. He argues that the relationship between signifiers and their signified meanings is not as stable or fixed as commonly believed. Instead, Derrida contends that language is marked by a complex network of differences and traces, and meanings are constantly deferred and deferred through this play of differences.
3.3 : Concept of metaphysics of presence
Metaphysics of Presence, a concept explored by Derrida, delves into the inherent binary oppositions found in language and philosophy. These binary oppositions, such as Man - Woman, Light - Dark, or Good - Evil, distinguish the meaning of one term by defining it in terms of lacking something that the other possesses. Consequently, this 'lacking' or absence places the second term in an inferior position compared to the first, privileged one. The concept highlights that these oppositions are not equal but rather hierarchic, with the privileged term considered superior and the other derivative or inferior.
∆ Video 4 :
4.1 : Derridean concept of DifferAnce
DifferAnce means the combination of "difference" and "deference" in the Derridean concept. It signifies the play of differences in language and meaning, as well as the deferral or postponement of stable meanings, highlighting the dynamic and complex nature of signification within language. Derrida coined this term to capture the ongoing movement and ambiguity inherent in the construction of meaning. It is not simply a French spelling of "Difference," but a specific philosophical concept developed by Jacques Derrida to challenge traditional ideas about language and meaning.
4.2 : Infinite play of meaning
The 'infinite play of meaning' is a concept in Derrida's philosophy that refers to the endless and dynamic nature of signification within language. According to Derrida, meaning is not fixed or stable but is constantly in flux, subject to an ever-expanding network of differences and interpretations. This 'infinite play' suggests that there is no final or ultimate meaning to any word or concept; instead, meanings are continually deferred and deferred, leading to an endless process of interpretation and re-interpretation.
4.3 : DIfferAnce = to differ + to defer
DifferAnce means the combination of "to differ" and "to defer" in Derrida's philosophy. It signifies the play of differences in language and meaning. Derrida coined this term to capture the ongoing movement and ambiguity inherent in the construction of meaning. It is not just a French spelling of "difference," but a specific philosophical concept developed by Jacques Derrida to challenge traditional ideas about language and meaning.
∆ Video 5 :
5.1 : Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences
The essay "Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences" was written by Jacques Derrida and presented at the international colloquium on 'Structuralism' held at Johns Hopkins University in 1966. In this influential essay, Derrida critically engages with the ideas of structuralism and challenges its foundational assumptions about language, meaning, and reality. He discusses the concept of "Structurality" and its relationship to presence and absence. The essay is considered a foundational work of deconstruction, a philosophical approach developed by Derrida, which seeks to reveal the instability and complexity of language, thought, and cultural system.
5.2 : Explain: "Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique."
Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique" means that language inherently contains the elements that require critical examination and questioning. In the context of structuralism and deconstruction, this idea highlights that language is not a neutral or transparent medium for communication, but rather it is complex and self-referential. The statement points out that language has its own set of rules, structures, and assumptions that can be analyzed and critiqued.
∆ Video 6 :
6.1 : The Yale School: the hub of the practitioners of Deconstruction in the literary theories
The Yale School did play a significant role in popularizing and promoting Deconstruction in literary theories, it is not the sole hub of practitioners of Deconstruction. Deconstruction as a philosophical approach originated with Jacques Derrida, and its influence extended beyond the confines of a single school or institution. While the Yale School was influential, Deconstruction has been embraced and developed by scholars from diverse academic backgrounds worldwide.
6.2 : The characteristics of the Yale School of Deconstruction
→ The Yale School of Deconstruction emphasized that literature is not a direct representation of reality but rather a construct that relies on language, symbols, and rhetoric to convey meaning.
→ Scholars of the Yale School questioned both aesthetic and formalist approaches to literature, as well as historicist and sociologist approaches.
→ The Yale School of Deconstruction showed a particular interest in Romantic literature, focusing on its themes, aesthetics, and philosophical implications.
∆ Video 7 :
7.1 : How other schools like New Historicism, Cultural Materialism, Feminism, Marxism and Postcolonial theorists used Deconstruction?
Other schools like New Historicism, Cultural Materialism, Feminism, Marxism, and Postcolonial theorists have used Deconstruction as a critical tool in various ways:
→ New Historicism employs Deconstruction to examine the historicity of texts and the textuality of history.
→ Cultural Materialism uses Deconstruction to emphasize the materiality of language and the ways in which language constructs meaning.
→ Feminist scholars utilize Deconstruction to subvert binary constructions of gender and challenge patriarchal discourse.
→ Marxism incorporates Deconstruction to analyze the ideological underpinnings and class struggles within texts.
→ Postcolonial theorists are fascinated by Deconstruction because it allows them to deconstruct the texts or discourse of the colonizers from within the narrative.
∆ Questions raised in my mind :
1)Can you explain the concept of "Difference" in deconstruction and its significance in understanding language and meaning?
2) How has the Metaphysics of Presence influenced the understanding of truth, certainty, and knowledge in Western thought?
3)Can you discuss the relationship between the Yale School and the rise of New Criticism as a broader literary movement?
Thanks for watching...😊
Word count : 1424
Image : 1
Videos : 6
