Etymology of Erasure
The term “erasure” finds its etymological origins in the Middle English word “erasen,” which can be traced back to the Old French “eraser.” It ultimately comes from the Latin “erasus,” the past participle of “erasere,” signifying the act of scraping off or rubbing out. It reflects the concept of deliberate or inadvertent removal that has been metaphorically extended to encompass various forms of obliteration and suppression in academic discourse.
Meanings of Erasure
- Linguistic Origins: The etymology of “erasure” traces back to Middle English with roots in Old French and Latin, denoting physical removal through scraping or rubbing.
- Historical Context: In historical scholarship, “erasure” pertains to the deliberate omission or suppression of specific events, figures, or narratives from records, potentially distorting our understanding of the past.
- Identity and Culture: In discussions of identity and culture, “erasure” signifies the marginalization or negation of certain cultural, racial, or gender identities, leading to their under-representation or omission in mainstream narratives.
- Memory and Trauma: In the realm of psychology and trauma studies, “erasure” refers to mechanisms by which individuals may suppress or forget distressing memories as a coping mechanism.
- Technological Usage: In the context of data and technology, “erasure” describes the removal of digital information or files, emphasizing the potential permanence or traceability of digital actions.
Definition of Erasure as a Theoretical Term
In literary theory, “erasure” represents a critical concept that denotes the deliberate omission or effacement of textual or cultural elements to reveal underlying power dynamics, ideological biases, or marginalized voices. It encompasses the intentional erasure of characters, narratives, or themes from a literary work, highlighting the significance of what is absent as much as what is present.
Erasure, as a theoretical term, underscores the capacity of authors and texts to shape meaning not only through what is explicitly stated but also through the gaps, silences, and exclusions that invite readers to engage in a process of interpretation and critique, thereby shedding light on the intricacies of narrative construction and cultural representation.
Erasure: Theorists, Works and Arguments
Theorists:
- Roland Barthes: Barthes explored the concept of erasure in his work “S/Z,” particularly in the context of readerly and writerly texts. It emphasizes how texts invite readers to actively participate in the process of erasure and meaning-making.
- Jacques Derrida: Derrida’s deconstructionist theory challenged traditional notions of textual stability, highlighting the inherent erasures within language and the instability of meaning.
- Michel Foucault: Foucault’s archaeological approach examined the erasure and transformation of discourses over time, revealing the power dynamics at play in the suppression of certain knowledge.
Key Works:
- “S/Z” by Roland Barthes: In this seminal work, Barthes dissected Balzac’s novella “Sarrasine,” highlighting how the text’s structure and narrative choices involve acts of erasure and rewriting, inviting readers to engage critically with the text.
- Of Grammatology by Jacques Derrida: Derrida’s exploration of the erasure of the authorial presence and the instability of meaning in written language challenged conventional literary and philosophical ideas.
- The Order of Things by Michel Foucault: In this work, Foucault discussed the historical erasure of epistemes and how the classification of knowledge contributes to the formation of new forms of knowledge and erasure.
Key Points:
- Theoretical Erasure: These theorists argue that literary texts are inherently marked by erasures, absences, and gaps that prompt readers to engage critically with the text, unveiling the complex layers of meaning and ideology.
- Power and Knowledge: It is seen as a manifestation of power dynamics, where dominant ideologies suppress alternative narratives, identities, or voices, leading to the erasure of marginalized perspectives.
- Reader-Text Interaction: In literature, it encourages readers to become active participants in the creation of meaning, emphasizing the co-authorship of texts and the role of interpretation in uncovering what has been erased or concealed.
Erasure and Literary Theories
| Literary Theory | Use of and Meanings |
| Marxist Theory | Marxist theory critically examines the presence of erasure of class struggles within narratives, emphasizing how capitalism perpetuates these omissions. It underscores the importance of recognizing the invisible labor and exploitation often concealed in literary works. |
| Feminist Theory | In feminist theory, it is used to analyze the phenomenon of gender erasure within texts, highlighting and challenging the pervasive gender biases. This theory advocates for inclusive representations of women and non-binary individuals, seeking to rectify the historical omission of their experiences and voices. |
| Postcolonial Theory | Postcolonial theory delves into the cultural erasure perpetrated by colonial powers, exploring the suppression of indigenous cultures, languages, and identities. It underscores the necessity of recovering and celebrating these marginalized elements to rectify historical injustices and foster cultural diversity. |
| Queer Theory | Queer theory scrutinizes sexuality erasure in literature, dissecting how heteronormative narratives often erase or stigmatize non-heterosexual identities and relationships. It advocates for acknowledging and validating queer experiences, striving for more inclusive representations in literary works. |
| Deconstructionist Theory | Deconstructionist theory emphasizes the inherent linguistic instability, revealing how texts contain erasures and contradictions. It seeks to challenge fixed meanings and invites multiple interpretations by deconstructing and exposing these textual inconsistencies. |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | Psychoanalytic theory investigates the phenomenon of psychological erasure within literature, exploring how characters may employ acts of erasure to suppress traumatic memories or obscure facets of their psyche. This often results in the creation of complex psychological narratives. |
| Critical Race Theory | Critical race theory examines how literary texts and societal structures may erase or downplay the experiences and contributions of racial minorities. It aims to shed light on systemic racism and its effects, advocating for a more equitable representation of marginalized racial perspectives. |
| Reader-Response Theory | Reader-response theory emphasizes the active engagement of readers with texts and how readers may uncover erasures or gaps in the narrative. This interaction contributes significantly to the meaning-making process, allowing readers to participate in shaping the interpretation of the text. |
| New Historicism | New historicism investigates how historical texts and narratives contribute to the perpetuation or challenge of erasure concerning certain historical events, voices, or perspectives. It underscores their role in shaping cultural memory and highlights their impact on our understanding of the past. |
Erasure in Literary Criticism
| Novel | Literary Criticism Example |
| Frankenstein by Mary Shelley | In the critical analysis of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, scholars often discuss the erasure of the female characters’ voices and agency in the novel, particularly in the case of Justine Moritz. Critics argue that the novel portrays the erasure of women’s experiences and perspectives, reflecting the social and cultural norms of Shelley’s time. |
| The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot | In literary criticism of T.S. Eliot’s poem The Waste Land, scholars explore the erasure of coherent narrative and conventional structure in the poem. The poem’s fragmented and allusive style erases traditional linear storytelling, inviting readers to piece together its meaning from fragmented cultural references and voices. |
| Beloved by Toni Morrison | In discussions of Toni Morrison’s Beloved, critics examine the erasure of individual and collective memory as a central theme. The characters in the novel grapple with traumatic memories that have been repressed or erased, illustrating the lasting impact of slavery and its effects on identity. |
| The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman | In the analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story The Yellow Wallpaper, literary critics often focus on the erasure of the female protagonist‘s autonomy and voice. The story depicts her descent into madness as her husband and societal norms silence her, erasing her agency and self-expression. |
Keypoints of Erasure in Theoretical Writings
- Erasure as a Gesture:
- This gesture, or placing it under erasure, involves crossing out a word as well as the act that involves crossing through it.
- Heidegger’s Use of Erasure:
- Martin Heidegger employed this practice in his work The Question of Being, where he notably crossed through the word “Being.”
- Heidegger’s purpose was to demonstrate that the term “Being” could no longer be employed conventionally because its underlying concept had slipped away and been forgotten in the discourse surrounding it.
- Presupposition of “Being”:
- Heidegger contended that the very notion of “Being” was always presupposed, implying that any question asking, “what is ‘Being’?”, could only be articulated because the idea of “Being” allowed for the contemplation of the being of “Being.”
- Challenging Assumptions:
- By crossing through the word, Heidegger aimed to release it from the assumptions that the term was fully understood or that the meaning of “Being” was somehow grasped.
- He also challenged the presumption that asking the question, “what is ‘Being’?”, implied an expectation of a definitive answer.
- Derrida’s Perspective:
- Jacques Derrida, in reference to Heidegger’s practice, pointed out that the act of crossing through is not merely a negative gesture.
- Instead, it signifies how, while signification remains essential, the concept of the idea of “Being” as a ‘transcendental signified’ has arrived at a specific limit in Heidegger’s text.
- Placing Terms under Erasure:
- Derrida also employed the technique of placing some terms as “sous rature” (under erasure) because these terms had exhausted their conventional function in metaphysical and logical discourse.
- Such terms no longer retained their full sense, nor did they signify a presence or origin for which the signifier stood. Instead, they indicated other structural traces, much like themselves, within the realm of language and thought.
Suggested Readings
- Derrida, Jacques. Of Grammatology. Translated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.
- Foucault, Michel. The Archaeology of Knowledge. Translated by A. M. Sheridan Smith, Vintage Books, 2010.
- Barthes, Roland. S/Z. Translated by Richard Miller, Hill and Wang, 1974.
- Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time. Translated by John Macquarrie and Edward Robinson, Harper Perennial Modern Thought, 2008.
- Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.
- Eliot, T.S. The Waste Land. Faber & Faber, 1922.
- Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Oxford University Press, 2008.
- Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “The Yellow Wallpaper.” In The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories, edited by Robert Shulman, Oxford University Press, 1995.
- Perkins, David. Romanticism and Animal Rights. Cambridge University Press, 2003.
- Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. Routledge, 2006.