Introduction: “Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
“Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak first appeared in Grey Room, No. 20 (Summer 2005), published by The MIT Press. This reflective and personal piece commemorates Jacques Derrida’s contributions to deconstruction and engages deeply with Spivak’s relationship to this philosophical movement. Spivak explores her early encounters with Derrida’s work, especially Of Grammatology, recounting her intellectual journey as a translator and thinker shaped by deconstruction’s rigorous demands. She unpacks deconstruction not as a fixed methodology but as an ethical and critical mode of inquiry, emphasizing its openness to reinterpretation and its resistance to systematic closure. The article underscores deconstruction’s enduring relevance in destabilizing binaries and interrogating the assumptions underlying philosophical and literary traditions. Spivak’s reflections also illustrate the inseparability of deconstruction from broader ethical and political stakes, particularly in postcolonial and feminist contexts. This work has been instrumental in advancing contemporary debates about textuality, agency, and global intellectual exchange.
Summary of “Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Personal Reflections on Deconstruction
- Spivak reflects on her first encounter with deconstruction in 1967 when she ordered Jacques Derrida’s De la grammatologie. Although she initially found the book daunting, she describes the profound impact it had on her intellectual life, leading her to translate and write its introduction (Spivak, 2005, p. 95).
- The essay is a tribute to Derrida on his seventieth birthday and interweaves personal anecdotes, such as his critique of her Marxist interpretations and their collegial interactions (p. 96).
Deconstruction as a Practice
- Spivak emphasizes that deconstruction is not a rigid methodology but an ongoing engagement with the complexities of texts. She lists thirteen ways of practicing deconstruction, focusing on examining binaries, the constitution of subjects and objects, and the ethical-political stakes of exclusion (p. 97-99).
- She underscores deconstruction’s resistance to closure, describing it as “an obsession” that cannot be definitively captured or practiced (p. 98).
Ethical and Political Dimensions
- The essay connects deconstruction to broader ethical and political issues, such as subaltern education and responsibility. Spivak recounts her efforts in training teachers in rural India, linking deconstruction to grassroots democratic practices (p. 99-100).
- She critiques Eurocentric and formulaic approaches to education, advocating for learning “from below” as a method rooted in the deconstructive ethos of questioning hierarchies and fixed structures (p. 100).
Key Theoretical Contributions
- Spivak discusses deconstruction’s “necessary impossibilities,” referring to its ability to highlight contradictions and deferred meanings without resolving them (p. 97).
- The essay also touches on the concept of différance, framing it as deconstruction’s greatest gift, enabling a continuous engagement with the unspoken and the unresolved (p. 101).
Intersection with Other Discourses
- Spivak reflects on how deconstruction intersects with psychoanalysis, postcolonial theory, and feminism. She critiques her earlier work as inadequate but acknowledges the transformative power of engaging with Derrida’s ideas (p. 98-102).
- The notion of “originary queerness” is introduced, which Spivak associates with tribal identities and sexual difference, presenting it as a space where deconstruction can engage with lived realities beyond textual confines (p. 101).
Legacy of Deconstruction
- Spivak frames deconstruction as an enduring intellectual challenge, one that resists complacency and calls for accountability in both academic and practical domains (p. 98-102).
- She concludes with a reflection on Derrida’s influence, describing him as a guiding figure whose work continues to shape her intellectual pursuits (p. 103-104).
Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
| Theoretical Term/Concept | Explanation/Definition | Context in Spivak’s Essay |
| Deconstruction | A mode of critique that interrogates and destabilizes binaries and fixed meanings. | Spivak describes it as an ongoing practice rather than a rigid method, emphasizing its ethical and political stakes. |
| Différance | A Derridean concept highlighting the deferral of meaning and difference within language. | Framed as deconstruction’s “greatest gift,” it disengages from fixed notions and reveals the instability of meaning. |
| Binary Opposition | Contrasting pairs (e.g., subject/object) used to construct meaning in texts and systems. | Spivak discusses reversing and displacing binaries as part of deconstructive practice. |
| Ethico-political Agenda | Hidden ideological or political motivations in texts. | Spivak emphasizes uncovering these agendas to highlight exclusions and ethical implications. |
| Preoriginary Moment | A conceptual space before the differentiation of subject and object. | Spivak identifies this as critical to understanding deconstruction’s articulation of foundational moments. |
| Undecidability | The impossibility of determining a definitive meaning or resolution in a text. | Central to deconstruction, as Spivak shows how meanings become undecidable through critical reading. |
| Subjectivity | The constitution of the subject as an entity within philosophical or literary traditions. | Explored in the context of deconstruction’s questioning of subject formation and identity. |
| Responsibility | Ethical accountability derived from deconstructive practice. | Illustrated in Spivak’s work on subaltern education, linking deconstruction to grassroots democracy. |
| Teleiopoesis | The imaginative creation of connections across distance without guarantees. | Spivak interprets this as a mode of deconstruction affecting distant others ethically and imaginatively. |
| Originary Queerness | A speculative concept of difference that precedes established categories of identity. | Spivak associates it with tribal identities and sexual difference, situating it within deconstruction’s framework. |
| Necessary Impossibility | A paradox inherent in deconstruction, where certain outcomes are simultaneously required and unattainable. | Spivak uses this concept to describe deconstruction’s engagement with contradictions and deferred meaning. |
| Arche-writing | Derrida’s term for a foundational form of writing that precedes traditional notions of text. | Spivak references it to critique the assumptions of so-called literate disciplines and their marginalization of orality. |
| Subaltern | Marginalized groups excluded from dominant discourse or power structures. | Spivak links deconstruction to subaltern education and emphasizes learning “from below.” |
Contribution of “Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak to Literary Theory/Theories
Poststructuralist Literary Theory
- Expands the Scope of Deconstruction: Spivak emphasizes deconstruction as not merely a textual practice but an ethical and political engagement, broadening its implications beyond structural linguistics and literary texts (Spivak, 2005, p. 97).
- Revisits Foundational Texts: By recounting her translation of Derrida’s Of Grammatology, Spivak reflects on the interpretative challenges of deconstruction, highlighting its foundational principles of undecidability and the destabilization of binaries (p. 96).
Feminist Theory
- Intersection of Feminism and Deconstruction: Spivak’s reflections align deconstruction with feminist concerns by emphasizing the constructed nature of gendered subjectivity and identity (p. 101).
- Focus on Marginalized Voices: Her concept of “originary queerness” critiques fixed notions of sexual difference, offering a deconstructive lens to feminist and queer theories (p. 101).
- Subaltern Agency and Ethics: Spivak links deconstruction to her work in subaltern education, illustrating how it can inform ethical practices that give voice to marginalized communities (p. 99).
- Critique of Eurocentrism: She critiques Eurocentric pedagogical practices while advocating for “learning from below,” positioning deconstruction as a tool for resisting colonial hegemonies (p. 100).
- Autobiographical Legending: Spivak connects deconstruction with psychoanalytic concepts like the primal scene, emphasizing the interplay of writing, memory, and subject formation (p. 98).
- Reworking Subjectivity: The essay highlights how deconstruction reconfigures traditional notions of subjectivity, resonating with psychoanalytic inquiries into identity (p. 97).
- Concept of Originary Queerness: Spivak introduces the idea of “originary queerness” to explore non-normative identities and relations, suggesting its potential to unsettle normative frameworks of identity and sexuality (p. 101).
- Destabilizing Identity Categories: By interrogating the foundations of sexual difference, Spivak situates deconstruction as a critical tool in queer theoretical discourse (p. 101).
Ethics and Politics in Literary Theory
- Ethical Imperatives of Deconstruction: The essay emphasizes accountability as a critical aspect of deconstructive practice, framing it as a commitment to ethical engagement with texts and communities (p. 99).
- Politics of Reading: Spivak advocates for “slow reading,” inspired by Derrida, to resist reductive interpretations and attend to the complexities of textual and cultural meaning (p. 100).
- Critique of Literate Disciplines: Spivak critiques the inability of so-called literate disciplines to imagine orality, advocating for a deconstructive approach to cultural differences (p. 102).
- Connecting Theory and Practice: By linking deconstruction with her educational work in India, Spivak demonstrates its application to real-world cultural and political contexts (p. 100).
Examples of Critiques Through “Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
| Literary Work | Critique Through Deconstruction | Relevance to Spivak’s Framework |
| 1. Shakespeare’s The Tempest | – Examines colonial binaries like master/slave and civilized/savage. | Spivak’s emphasis on subaltern agency aligns with questioning Prospero’s dominance and Caliban’s marginalization (Spivak, 2005, p. 99). |
| 2. Conrad’s Heart of Darkness | – Deconstructs the binary of civilization and barbarism, revealing the complicity of European civilization in violence. | Spivak’s critique of Eurocentric pedagogy reflects the imperialist critique embedded in deconstruction of Conrad’s text (p. 100). |
| 3. Brontë’s Jane Eyre | – Highlights the erasure of Bertha Mason as a subaltern figure and explores gendered subjectivities. | Spivak’s feminist and postcolonial focus critiques the lack of agency given to marginalized female figures (p. 101). |
| 4. Joyce’s Ulysses | – Deconstructs traditional narrative structures and identity formations in Leopold Bloom’s journey. | Resonates with Spivak’s discussions of undecidability and the ethical implications of destabilized textual forms (p. 97). |
Criticism Against “Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
Abstract and Personal Approach
- Lack of Specific Applications: Critics argue that the essay’s reflective tone and personal anecdotes overshadow concrete applications of deconstruction to specific texts or problems.
- Over-reliance on Autobiography: The essay’s autobiographical narrative may dilute its theoretical rigor, making it less accessible to readers seeking systematic critiques.
Elusiveness of Deconstruction
- Vagueness of Concepts: The essay’s interpretation of deconstruction, such as différance and “originary queerness,” has been critiqued as overly abstract and difficult to operationalize in practical analysis.
- Resistance to Closure: While this is central to deconstruction, some readers find the lack of definitive conclusions frustrating or unproductive.
Exclusivity of Academic Discourse
- Insufficient Accessibility: The dense theoretical language and references to Derrida’s works without sufficient explication may alienate readers unfamiliar with poststructuralism.
- Neglect of Practical Outcomes: Critics suggest that Spivak’s focus on philosophical engagement does not adequately address how deconstruction can yield tangible changes in fields like education or politics.
Ethical and Political Limitations
- Ambiguity in Ethics: Spivak’s call for ethical responsibility through deconstruction has been critiqued as lacking clarity on how such ethics can be systematically implemented.
- Limited Political Engagement: While the essay connects deconstruction to subaltern education, it has been criticized for not offering a concrete methodology for achieving democratic reform in marginalized communities.
Critique of Self-reflexivity
- Excessive Self-critique: Spivak’s acknowledgment of her mistakes and limitations, while honest, has been seen by some as detracting from the authority of her arguments.
- Overemphasis on Derrida: The essay’s reliance on Derrida’s ideas and approval risks downplaying Spivak’s own contributions to deconstructive practice.
Representative Quotations from “Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak with Explanation
| Quotation | Explanation |
| “I am touched by something that I call deconstruction, with no guarantees that I am ever right on the mark.” | Highlights Spivak’s view of deconstruction as a process without definitive answers, reflecting its nature of challenging fixed meanings. |
| “Necessary impossibilities become my explanatory formulas, and they fit.” | Illustrates the paradoxical nature of deconstruction, which thrives on the coexistence of contradictions and deferrals of meaning. |
| “The enterprise of deconstruction is always in a certain way carried away by its own work.” | Acknowledges the self-referential and recursive dynamics of deconstruction, as discussed in Derrida’s Of Grammatology. |
| “No one has taught me deconstruction. I was only ever a visitor.” | Reflects Spivak’s autodidactic engagement with deconstruction and her position as an outsider within its academic centers. |
| “Deconstruction is not possible, all the evidence to the contrary.” | Emphasizes deconstruction as an aspirational practice, inherently resisting closure or definitive application. |
| “Accountability is the disclosure of the gift, if there is any.” | Links deconstruction to ethical responsibility, framing it as a mode of engaging with the unknown and contingent. |
| “The inability to imagine orality is one of the scandals of so-called literate disciplines.” | Critiques the privileging of written texts over oral traditions, connecting deconstruction to broader cultural critiques. |
| “Originary queerness may be that from which sexual difference differs.” | Introduces the concept of “originary queerness,” questioning foundational assumptions of identity and difference. |
| “Slow reading, even at a time of political urgency, is an always inadequate plea.” | Advocates for a deliberate, reflective approach to reading, despite the pressures of political or academic immediacy. |
| “If you lose, you win, or you win. Such a text gives me a certain permission.” | Reflects the liberatory potential of deconstruction to embrace uncertainty and redefine success within critical practices. |
Suggested Readings: “Touched by Deconstruction” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak
- Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. “Touched by Deconstruction.” Grey Room, no. 20, 2005, pp. 95–104. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20442692. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.
- LIMBU, BISHUPAL. “Democracy, Perhaps: Collectivity, Kinship, and the Politics of Friendship.” Comparative Literature, vol. 63, no. 1, 2011, pp. 86–110. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41238518. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.
- Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. “New Literary History : Pages from a Memoir.” New Literary History, vol. 40, no. 4, 2009, pp. 767–69. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40666444. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.
- Syrotinski, Michael. “Spivak Reading Derrida: An Interesting Exchange.” Deconstruction and the Postcolonial: At the Limits of Theory, Liverpool University Press, 2007, pp. 40–62. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt5vjk5s.7. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.