Theory of Deconstruction with Examples

Contemporary Western Theories and Film Studies

1. Prepared by Daya Vaghani Department of English (M.A.Sem III) M.K.Bhavnagar University Contemporary Western Theories and Film Studies Theory of Deconstruction With Examples

2. Rene Descartes (1596-1650) and Fredrick Nietzsche (1844-1900) were pioneers in deconstruction. They began to question the objective truth of language. This is also known as Poststructuralist, this criticism came after structuralism. Historical Development

3. Jacques Derrida French Theorist, philosopher, and writer His areas of study include philosophy, literary criticism and literary theory Studied Philosophy at a very prestigious school in Paris, Ecole Normale Superieure He received a great deal of popularity for his theories and writing style, and equally as much criticism for them In 1967, he introduced the theory of Deconstruction https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/oct/11/guardianobituaries.france Jacques Derrida (1930-2004)

4. Derrida’s main influence for the development of this theory was from the theorist, Martin Heidegger In his work called Being and Time, Heidegger talks about “destructuring” of previous ontological concepts such as time, history, matter, ect. in order to better understand them. Derrida’s theory is similar to Heidegger’s in that he, too wanted to rethink many of the terms commonly used in philosophical considerations, but Derrida took further steps in creating a workable theory. Origin of Deconstruction

5. Other influences included such famous thinkers Andre Leroi-Gourhan, and Ferdinand De Saussure . Derrida’s Influences Sigmund Freud Fredric Nietzsche Edmund Husserl Claude Levi Strauss

6. difficult to define Derrida once said that it is a necessary confusion since it is criticizing the very language needed to explain it. Here is a very simplified explanation of the reasoning behind this theory from the article by T.S.Johnson that can helpful. “Deconstruction seems to center around the idea that language and meaning are often inadequate in trying to convey the message or idea a communicator is trying to express. Since the confusion stems from the language and not the object then one should break down or deconstruct the language to see if we can better understand where the confusion stems.” Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/84192 (T.S.Johnson) What is Deconstruction?

7. . To understand Deconstruction

8. Looked at language Diachronically. He traced wor ds over time looking for the changes in sounds and meanings. According to de Saussure, Linguistics is differentiated from sciences such sciences as zoology, psychology,and anthropology because these sciences can be helpful to “everything that is outside the system of language” (1966, p.20). For de Saussure, linguistics is only a partof a science (semiology) that is engaged in the study of the life of signs within society. Ferdinand Saussure Source - Ibrahim, Abushihab[. “A Critical Review of Ferdinand de Saussure’s Linguistic Theory.”

9. These rules of language were developed by Ferdinand de Saussure. Langue - Language is made of a set of rules, known as this. Parole - General rules of language applied by members of a specific community. Signs – He depicted language as a set of signs, that came in two parts the Signifier and the Signified Rules of Language

10. Derrida affirm concepts of language system based on differences Derrida asserts that the signified can also be known through relationship Derrida’s Interpritation of Sassure’s Sign

11. • I filled the glass of milk Glass is signifier of the signified concept of a container to hold the milk Glass = Signifier Container = Signified The container was filled with glass Spoken or written “container” was signified in previous sentence, but now is the signifier It’s signified the concept of an object that can be filled Notice the changing use of the word GLASS

12. Derrida contends that the opposition between speech and writing is a manifestation of the “logocentrism” of Western culture—i.e., the general assumption that there is a realm of “truth” existing prior to and independent of its representation by linguistic signs. Logocentrism encourages us to treat linguistic signs as distinct from and inessential to the phenomena they represent, rather than as inextricably bound up with them. The logocentric conception of truth and reality as existing outside language derives in turn from a deep-seated prejudice in Western philosophy, which Derrida characterizes as the “metaphysics of presence.” Website Source: https://www.britannica.com/art/logocentrism Logocentrism

13. Derrida, in an interview with Richard Kearney, expresses Deconstruction as “Deconstruction is always deeply concerned with the ‘other’ of language. I never cease to be surprised by critics who see my work as a declaration that there is nothing beyond language, that we are imprisoned in language; it is, in fact, saying the exact opposite. The critique of logocentrism is above all else the search for the ‘other’ and the ‘other of language’” , Winquist (2003:263). Source- https://dergipark.org.

14. The most important part of Deconstruction. Two opposing concepts. Deconstruction uses Binary Oppositions to look at what is not in a story. Of the two parts of binary oppositions, There is a dominant and an oppressed or non- dominant. The opposite of Logocentrism. Binary Oppossition

15. Continue…. For Saussure the binary opposition was the “means by which the units of language have value or meaning; each unit is defined against what it is not.” With this categorization, terms and concepts tend to be associated with a positive or negative. For example, Reason/Passion, Man/Woman, Inside/Outside, Presence/Absence, Speech/Writing, etc. Example of tree for aliens Key terms by Jayant Prasad- Source : h t tps://newderrida.wordpress.com

16. Deconstructive Reading of the poem Snow Look at Symbolism of snow to extract the opposite: White Cold Winter Usually symbolizing death so the opposite could belife. This poem then could be talking about the Rebirth of humans in religion Snow By Frederick Seidel Snow is what it does. It falls and it stays and i t goes. It melts and it is here somewhere. We all will get there. Source: https://www.poetryfoundation.org

17. Continue….. According to Barry (2017), there are several things that the post-structuralism theorist seeks which are paradoxes, shifts/breaks (in tone, view point, tense, time, person, and attitude), conflicts, absences, linguistic quirks, and aporia. Barry also simplified those things into three stages deconstruction process, which are verbal stage, textual stage, and lastly, linguistic stage. This essay will deconstruct a poem by Frederick Seidel, “Snow” using post-structuralism principles. Verbal Stage Textual Stage Linguistic Stage Souce: https://qc52.wordpress.com

18. Ajda, Güney. “A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF JACQUES DERRIDA’S DECONSTRUCTION AND HERMENEUTICS.” E-Journal of New World Sciences Academy , vol. 3, 2008, dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/186848. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Deconstruction". Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Oct. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/deconstruction. Accessed 18 October 2021. Derek, Attridge. “Jacques Derrida.” The Guardian , 2004, www.theguardian.com/news/2004/oct/11/guardianobituaries.france . References

19. Continue... Heidegger, Martin, John Macquarrie, and Edward Robinson. Being and Time. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 1962. Ibrahim, Abushihab[. “A Critical Review of Ferdinand de Saussure’s Linguistic Theory.” CSCanada, vol. 8, no. 1, 2014, pp. 57–61, doi:10.3968/j.sll.1923156320140801.3909. Jayant, Prasad. “The Father of Deconstruction.” Derrida , 10 Dec. 2010, Newderrida.wordpress.com. Johnson,T.S.“Deconstruction Theory.” Azinearticles , 2005, https://ezinearticles.com/?Deconstruction-Theory&id=84192 Seidel,Frederick. “Poetry Foundation.” Poetry , Sept. 2012, www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/55728/snow-56d23797074a2.