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 words 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

11. ● 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

12. •
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

13. ● 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

14. 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.

15. ● 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

16. 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 :https://newderrida.wordpress.com

17. 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 it goes.
It melts and it is here somewhere.
We all will get there.
Source:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org

18. 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.
1. Verbal Stage
2. Textual Stage
3. Linguistic Stage
Souce: https://qc52.wordpress.com

19. ● 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

20. 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.