Jacques DerridaJacques DerridaStudent EditionStudent Edition

Structure, Sign, and Play in the Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human SciencesDiscourse of the Human Sciences

Edited by: Dr. Kay Picart and Brett AderEdited by: Dr. Kay Picart and Brett Ader

Early DerridaEarly Derrida

►Born 1930 in Algiers (French colony in Born 1930 in Algiers (French colony in N. Africa)N. Africa)

►Born into Jewish familyBorn into Jewish family►Experienced cultural marginalizationExperienced cultural marginalization►Expelled from first school because his Expelled from first school because his

presence exceeded the allowed presence exceeded the allowed amount of Jewish students. amount of Jewish students.

►Left second school because of anti-Left second school because of anti-Semitic hostilitiesSemitic hostilities

1966 John Hopkins 1966 John Hopkins colloquiumcolloquium

►The purpose of this colloquium was to The purpose of this colloquium was to introduce Structuralismintroduce Structuralism

►Structuralism promised to provide Structuralism promised to provide such fields as anthropology and such fields as anthropology and literary criticism with a scientific basis literary criticism with a scientific basis of studyof study

►Presenting his paper last, Derrida put Presenting his paper last, Derrida put all of Structuralism into doubt.all of Structuralism into doubt.

What is Structuralism?What is Structuralism?

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Levi-StraussLevi-Strauss

►He named structuralismHe named structuralism►He applied structuralism to his He applied structuralism to his

anthropological work.anthropological work.► He sought in his works to create a He sought in his works to create a

“grammar” of myths based on his “grammar” of myths based on his analysis of Nambikwara in S. Americaanalysis of Nambikwara in S. America

►He believed his research would reveal a He believed his research would reveal a structure for myths related to all structure for myths related to all culturescultures

What are some of Derrida’s What are some of Derrida’s criticisms of structuralism?criticisms of structuralism?

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What is deconstruction?What is deconstruction?

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Why, for Derrida, are binaries Why, for Derrida, are binaries problematic?problematic?

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Deconstructing PlatoDeconstructing Plato

► Plato condemns imitationPlato condemns imitation► Yet, he himself is speaking through the Yet, he himself is speaking through the

voice of Socratesvoice of Socrates► Therefore, Plato is an imitatorTherefore, Plato is an imitator

Dance and Play of Dance and Play of DifferencesDifferences

► If Plato is an imitator, If Plato is an imitator, then his work is then his work is unreliableunreliable

► If Plato’s work is If Plato’s work is unreliable, then imitation unreliable, then imitation is an acceptable means is an acceptable means of literary expressionof literary expression

► Therefore, if imitation is Therefore, if imitation is acceptable then Plato’s acceptable then Plato’s work is reliable work is reliable

► And the cycle begins And the cycle begins again again

QuestionQuestion

► In your opinion, how successfully could In your opinion, how successfully could Deconstruction be used for any Deconstruction be used for any political agenda?political agenda?

Works CitedWorks Cited

►Derrida, Jacques. “Structure, Sign, and Derrida, Jacques. “Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences.” Sciences.” Critical Theory Since Plato Critical Theory Since Plato Edited by Hazard Adams 1992 Heinle & Edited by Hazard Adams 1992 Heinle & HeinleHeinle

►Powell, Jim. Powell, Jim. Derrida for Beginners Derrida for Beginners Dansbury, CT: Writers and Readers 1997Dansbury, CT: Writers and Readers 1997

►Palmer, Donald. Palmer, Donald. Structuralism and Post Structuralism and Post Structuralism for Beginners Dansbury, Structuralism for Beginners Dansbury, CT: Writers and Readers 1997CT: Writers and Readers 1997