Flipped Learning : Derrida and Deconstruction

 

Hello Everyone😊, 

This blog is based on 'A Flipped Learning Task' assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad Sir. In this blog questions are answered after watching videos.

Introduction of Derrida :

Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) was a French philosopher best known for developing the concept of deconstruction. His work primarily focuses on the relationship between text and meaning, challenging traditional assumptions about the stability of language and interpretation. Derrida's ideas have had a significant influence on literary theory, philosophy, and critical theory, particularly through his critique of Western metaphysics and his exploration of how meaning is constructed and deconstructed in texts.

Questions-Answers:

Video 1: Defining Deconstruction

1.1. •Why is it difficult to define Deconstruction?

Defining deconstruction is challenging because Derrida deliberately avoids giving it a fixed definition. He argues that, like many terms in philosophy and literary criticism, deconstruction cannot have a final, unchanging definition. This ambiguity makes Derrida's work particularly tough for students and scholars, who often seek clear and straightforward explanations.

1.2. •Is Deconstruction a negative term?

Deconstruction can sound negative if taken literally, but it isn't about tearing things down. Instead, it looks at the basics and boundaries of systems. How it's understood can vary from person to person, but most critics view it in a positive light.

1.3. • How does Deconstruction happen on its own?

Deconstruction is a response to structuralism, which tends to reduce everything to simple pairs or unified concepts. It arises from the flaws within structuralism, challenging these strict frameworks by questioning the basic oppositions and structures they create. Deconstructionists look at how these oppositions not only shape systems but also hold the possibility for change, providing fresh ways to understand complex ideas.

Video 2: Heidegger and Derrida

2.1. •The influence of Heidegger on Derrida

Heidegger, a German philosopher, made a significant impact with his 1927 work "Being and Time." In this book, he challenges the traditional Western approach to philosophy by questioning the concept of the existence of beings. This work had a strong influence on Derrida.

2.2. Derridean rethinking of the foundations of Western philosophy.

Influenced by Heidegger, Derrida identified two key concepts in Western thought:

1. Phonocentrism: The tendency to prioritize speech

2. Logocentrism: The focus on writing and logic

Derrida makes a binary of speech and writing, in which speech is privileged over writing and writing is wholly neglected in the western.

Video 3: Saussurean and Derrida

3.1. •Ferdinand de Saussureian concept of language (that meaning is arbitrary, relational, constitutive)

Ferdinand de Saussure outlines three types of meaning in language: arbitrary, relational, and constitutive.

1. Arbitrary Meaning: Words are assigned to objects through mutual agreement, so their connection is random. For instance, the words "tree" and "swing" are just labels we agree on for certain objects.

2. Relational Meaning: This comes from the relationships between words. For example, we understand "good" because it is not "bad," and "male" because it is not "female."

3. Constitutive Meaning: Language shapes how we experience the world rather than just naming things directly. Our understanding of reality is built through language. Saussure's concept of the sign includes the signifier (the word) and the signified (the concept), highlighting that the link between them is arbitrary.

3.2. •How Derrida deconstructs the idea of arbitrariness?

Derrida explores the notion that meanings are arbitrary in his work "Structure, Sign, and Play." He explains that we can grasp the concept of something even when it's not there. Structuralists rely on binary oppositions, where one element is considered superior because it's present, while the other is seen as inferior because it's absent.

3.3. •Concept of metaphysics of presence

In Deconstruction philosophy, Derrida talks about the "metaphysics of presence." This is the idea that we tend to understand key concepts like truth, reality, and being by focusing on presence, essence, identity, and origin, while overlooking absence and difference. In binary oppositions, one side is always seen as present and more important, while the other side, being absent, is seen as lesser. For instance, women are often viewed as the "other" in relation to men.

Video 4: DifferAnce

4.1. Derridean concept of DifferAnce 

Derrida's idea of 'DifferAnce' merges the concepts of difference and deferral, highlighting how meaning is both created and delayed through language. This goes against the traditional belief in fixed and immediate meaning. The distinction between 'Difference' and 'DifferAnce' lies in their spelling, not in how they are pronounced. Derrida uses 'DifferAnce' to stress the importance of writing over speech. We recognize the difference between these two terms when we see them written down, not when we hear them.

4.2. •Infinite play of meaning

Derrida explains that the meaning of a word isn't found in its definition but in other words. Each word points to another word, creating an endless chain of meanings. He refers to this as the 'infinite play of meaning.' This concept means that meanings are always shifting and interconnected, with no fixed or final explanation.

4.3. •DIfferAnce = to differ + to defer

Derrida created the term 'DifferAnce' by blending 'differ' and 'defer' because both words convey the idea of difference. 'Differ' refers to the distinction between things, like different opinions or how black is not white. 'Defer' means to delay or postpone. When we seek the meaning of something, we encounter other signs that come up during our search for meaning.

Video 5: Structure, Sign and Play

5.1. •Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences

This is the foundational work of deconstruction. Derrida presented a paper at Yale University where he critiques Structuralist Anthropology. In this work, he argues about the importance of speech, writing, and language.

5.2. •Explain: "Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique."

In this quote, Derrida points out that critics often end up using the same methods they criticize when examining traditions. For instance, they might criticize a scientific approach to interpreting a work but then use that same approach in their critique, which can weaken their argument. This is common in Deconstruction, where critics question meaning even as they offer their own interpretations. Derrida suggests that every philosophical idea or language, including Deconstruction, has a weak spot that deserves criticism.

Video 6: Yale School

6.1. The Yale School: the hub of the practitioners of Deconstruction in the literary theories

The Yale School, based at Yale University, was instrumental in developing Deconstruction. Important members, such as Paul de Man, Harold Bloom, J. Hillis Miller, and Geoffrey Hartman, were often called the "Yale Hermeneutic Mafia." They were key in promoting deconstruction theory during the 1970s, helping it spread from America to the rest of the world.

6.2. • The characteristics of the Yale School of Deconstruction

The Yale approach to deconstruction involves uncovering multiple meanings in texts through both playful and scholarly analysis, rather than focusing on philosophical or political debates. On the other hand, Derrida aims to delve into both philosophical and political ideas in his work.

A) They uncover many meanings in texts.

B) They challenge traditional ways of interpreting literature, including its history and aesthetics.

C) They have a strong interest in Romanticism.

Video 7: Other Schools and Deconstruction

7.1. •How other schools like New Historicism, Cultural Materialism, Feminism, Marxism and Postcolonial theorists used Deconstruction?

Deconstruction introduces the fundamental idea of questioning structures, which has influenced various branches of theory in different ways.

- New Historicism: Examines how history is written and highlights that historical accounts can be biased or contradictory.

  

- Cultural Materialism: Investigates how money and power influence culture and art.

- Feminism: Challenges traditional views on gender roles and questions why society is structured the way it is.

- Marxism: Analyzes the impact of capitalism on society and points out its flaws.

- Postcolonial Theory: Studies the effects of colonialism on cultures and explores how people perceive themselves after colonial rule.

Each of these theories has adapted deconstruction's core idea of questioning established meanings to uncover multiple interpretations and give voice to marginalized perspectives within their fields.

Thank you