Deconstruction Literary Theory aka Deconstructionism

Introduction to Deconstruction Literary Theory

The common term used in academic discourse is “Deconstruction” or “Deconstruction literary theory.” While both “Deconstructionism” and “Deconstruction” are occasionally used interchangeably, “Deconstruction” is the more widely recognized and accepted term when referring to the critical theory associated with thinkers like Jacques Derrida. It is used to describe the analytical approach that seeks to uncover the inherent contradictions, ambiguities, and complexities within texts.

Etymology of Deconstruction

The term “deconstruction” originates from the French word déconstruction, which itself has its roots in the Latin language. The Latin term “de-” means “to undo” or “to reverse,” while construere means “to build” or “to construct.” Therefore, “deconstruction” is understood as the process of “unbuilding” or “undoing” the structures or assumptions underlying a text or concept.

Meanings of Deconstruction

1. Textual Subversion: Deconstruction involves the subversion of traditional notions of meaning and interpretation within texts, emphasizing the instability and multiplicity of meanings inherent in language.
2. De-centering Binary Opposites: It challenges binary oppositions and hierarchies present in language and culture, revealing how terms like “good” and “evil” are interconnected and dependent on each other.
3. Différance: Deconstruction introduces the concept of “différance,” highlighting the constant deferral and difference in meaning, where meanings are deferred from one signifier to another.
4. Undecidability: It emphasizes the undecidability of language, suggesting that complete and fixed interpretations are impossible, leading to a perpetual play of signifiers.
5. Textual Playfulness: Deconstruction often employs strategies of wordplay, irony, and paradox to disrupt conventional interpretations and reveal hidden complexities.
6. Contextualization: Deconstruction considers the historical, cultural, and linguistic context of a text as crucial for understanding its multiple interpretations.
7. Reader Involvement: It acknowledges the role of the reader in constructing meaning and views interpretation as a collaborative and subjective process.
8. Critique of Logocentrism: Deconstruction critiques “logocentrism,” the belief in a fixed and privileged center of meaning in language, by highlighting its inherent contradictions.
9. Non-foundationalism: It rejects the idea of foundational truths or fixed meanings, promoting a view that meaning is contingent and always open to revision.
10. Interdisciplinary Influence: Deconstruction has influenced various fields beyond literature, including philosophy, linguistics, cultural studies, and the social sciences.

Deconstruction Literary Theory and Deconstructionism: Comparison and Contrast

Deconstruction Literary Theory	Deconstructionism
Developed by Jacques Derrida in the late 1960s and early 1970s.	A broader term encompassing deconstruction as a literary theory and its wider implications.
A response to structuralism, a dominant approach to literary analysis at the time.	Influenced by Jacques Derrida’s ideas.
Seeks to reveal and challenge underlying assumptions and binary oppositions within a text.	Extends beyond literature to other fields like philosophy, social sciences, art, and architecture.
Exposes inherent instabilities and contradictions within texts.	Incorporates deconstructive thought across various disciplines.
Emphasizes the instability of language and the constructed nature of meaning.	Explores the instability of language and meaning in diverse contexts.
Analyzes how texts deconstruct themselves through contradictions and aporias.	Challenges hierarchical binaries and traditional conceptual frameworks.
Questions hierarchical binaries and traditional notions of truth and authorial intention.

Deconstruction Literary Theory/Deconstructionism: Origin, Theorists, Works and Arguments

Origin:

• Emerged in the mid-20th century as a philosophical and literary movement, primarily associated with French thinker Jacques Derrida.

Theorists:

• Jacques Derrida: The foremost proponent and theorist of Deconstruction, Derrida’s works, such as Of Grammatology and “Writing and Difference,” laid the foundation for the theory.

Works:

• Of Grammatology (1967): In this seminal work, Derrida explores the nature of writing and its relationship to speech, challenging the hierarchical distinctions between the two.
• Writing and Difference (1967): Derrida discusses the concepts of différance, the play of signifiers, and the deconstruction of metaphysical oppositions in language and thought.

Arguments:

• De-centering of Binary Oppositions: Deconstruction argues against fixed binary oppositions in language, revealing how terms like presence/absence, good/evil, and speech/writing are interconnected and mutually dependent.
• Différance: The concept of “différance” underscores the constant deferral and difference in meaning, suggesting that meaning is never fully present but is always deferred to other signifiers.
• Undecidability: Deconstruction asserts the undecidability of language, challenging the idea of a definitive interpretation and highlighting the perpetual play of signifiers.
• Reader Involvement: It emphasizes the role of the reader in constructing meaning and acknowledges that interpretations are subjective and context-dependent.
• Critique of Logocentrism: Deconstruction critiques “logocentrism,” the belief in a fixed and privileged center of meaning in language, by exposing its contradictions and the absence of a stable foundation.

Principles of Deconstructionism

These principles guide the deconstructionist approach to literary analysis, highlighting the destabilizing and subversive nature of the theory.

Principles	Main Points
1. Language and Meaning	Language is inherently unstable and lacks fixed or objective meanings. Meanings are constructed through a network of differences and relationships. Traditional notions of truth and stable meaning are questioned and challenged.
2. Binary Oppositions and Hierarchies	Deconstruction focuses on revealing and questioning binary oppositions present in texts. Examples of binary oppositions include presence/absence, speech/writing, and literal/metaphorical. Hierarchical structures and dualistic thinking are deconstructed and destabilized.
3. Contradictions and Aporias	Deconstruction aims to expose contradictions and aporias (unresolvable tensions) within texts. It reveals the inherent instabilities and ambiguities that undermine the coherence of a text. These contradictions challenge the notion of a single, fixed interpretation or meaning.
4. Authorial Intention and Textual Autonomy	The author’s intention is not the ultimate determinant of a text’s meaning. The text has its own autonomy and can generate multiple interpretations. Deconstruction emphasizes the importance of the reader’s active engagement in constructing meaning.
5. Uncovering Assumptions and Ideologies	Deconstruction aims to uncover and interrogate the underlying assumptions and ideologies within a text. It exposes how language and texts reinforce power structures and dominant ideologies. Deconstruction seeks to disrupt and challenge these power dynamics.
6. Playful and Subversive Reading	Deconstruction encourages a playful and subversive approach to reading and interpretation. It involves examining the gaps, silences, and contradictions within a text. Multiple interpretations and perspectives are explored, disrupting fixed meanings.
7. Contextual and Intertextual Analysis	Deconstruction emphasizes the importance of considering the broader context and intertextuality of a text. It examines how texts relate to and influence each other, revealing the interconnectedness of meaning. Contextual and intertextual analysis helps to unveil hidden assumptions and challenge dominant discourses.

Suggested Readings Deconstruction Literary Theory

1. Derrida, Jacques. Of Grammatology. Translated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.
2. Derrida, Jacques. Positions. Translated by Alan Bass, University of Chicago Press, 1981.
3. Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, 2008.
4. Fletcher, John. Introduction to Literary Criticism. Routledge, 2018.
5. Norris, Christopher. Deconstruction: Theory and Practice. Routledge, 2002.
6. Rivkin, Julie, and Michael Ryan, editors. Literary Theory: An Anthology. 3rd ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.
7. Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. The Post-Colonial Critic: Interviews, Strategies, Dialogues. Routledge, 1990.

You may read more on Literary Theory below:

• Social Construction
• Social Constructionism
• Theory of Irony as Literary Theory
• Theory of Irony in Literature