Jacques Derrida’s Deconstruction /Poststructuralism Course Instructor Raj Thakur

Deconstruction Linguistic turn in theory: Linguistic invasion and epistemological break with universal Western metaphysics, center, origin Challenging the “structurality of structure” in Structuralism / Saussure’s closed sign system Decentring of all meaning making exercise : Idealist (Platonic) and humanistic Slipperiness of language ; Inherent contradiction in any piece of writing

Breaking the centric: i) Logocenricism (Transcedental signifier) ii) Metaphysics of Presence iii) Phonocentricism (Speech over writing) iv) Suggests Graphocentric model : “marks on blanks” v) Ecriture writing

Writing and Differance Portmanteau word ; Difference to differ (binary opposition) and to defer (postponement of meaning, put under erasure) They don’t mean but differ : impasse, aporia, trace Archewriting: a form of language which can not be conceptualised within the metaphysics of presence and is not derived from speech

Paradox of “Supplement” Its a finite field of infinite substitution Replacement (absence center) and addition (new to structure itself) Derrida’s “play”, play of substitution as there is always an unpresentable absence, floating signifier, galaxy of signifiers Undecidability of meaning : Hymen (membrane both inside and out), Pharmakon (both cure and poison)