Flipped learning task - Derrida and Deconstruction
Flipped learning task - Derrida and Deconstruction
Hello learners. I am a student. I am writing this blog as a part of flipped learning activity. In this activity we have to watch video and answer the question.
What is Flipped learning ?
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Flipped Learning is a pedagogical approach in which direct instruction moves from the group learning space to the individual learning space, and the resulting group pace is transformed into a dynamic, interactive learning environment where the educator guides students as they apply concepts and engage creatively in the subject matter.
This approach often involves students first learning new content at home, typically through video lectures or reading assignments. Classroom time is then used for exercises, projects, or discussions that deepen understanding through interactive and collaborative activities. The teacher's role shifts from being the primary source of information to a facilitator who supports and guides students' application of knowledge.
1.1. Why is difficult to define Deconstruction ?
Deconstruction is hard to define concisely because it's a philosophical approach that challenges fixed meanings and interpretations of language and texts. Its complexity arises from its aim to uncover and question underlying assumptions about meaning and representation.
It resists simple definitions because it involves examining the relationship between text and meaning in a way that reveals contradictions and ambiguities. Deconstruction questions the idea that texts have a single, stable meaning, and instead, it explores how meaning is constructed and how it can vary depending on context, perspective, and interpretation. This makes it inherently complex and difficult to summarize briefly.
1.2 Is Deconstruction a Negetive term ?
Deconstruction is not a negative term; rather, it's a philosophical method that aims to uncover hidden meanings and assumptions in texts and language. It challenges traditional binary oppositions and hierarchies by revealing how meanings can be fluid and context-dependent. While some may view it as destabilizing or critical, its purpose is to open up new perspectives and interpretations rather than solely negate or dismiss existing ones.
1.3 how does deconstruction happened on it's own?
Deconstruction doesn't happen on its own; it requires active engagement by a reader or analyst to uncover hidden meanings, contradictions, and assumptions in texts.
Video 2:
2.1. The influence of Heidegger on Derrida
Heidegger had a significant influence on Derrida's philosophical development. Derrida acknowledges Heidegger as one of the key thinkers, alongside Freud and Nietzsche, who shaped his ideas. Heidegger's concept of "destruction," translated into French as "deconstruction," is central to Derrida's work.
Heidegger's philosophy delves into the "question of being" — essentially, exploring what it means to exist. He criticized Western philosophy for neglecting this fundamental question, focusing instead on entities (things that exist) without questioning the nature of their existence. In his seminal work "Being and Time," Heidegger aimed to transform Western thought by rethinking how we understand existence.
Derrida continues this project by extending Heidegger's ideas. Heidegger's approach to language, asserting that "language speaks, not man," resonated with Derrida. This means that meaning is produced by language itself, not by individual speakers. Derrida builds on this by arguing that language displaces man from the center of philosophy, challenging the traditional Western emphasis on human-centered meaning.
2.2. Derridean rethinking of the foundations of Western philosophy
Derrida's reevaluation of Western philosophy involves a profound critique and reformation of its core concepts. He contends that Western philosophy relies on binary oppositions, such as presence/absence and speech/writing, which are fundamentally unstable.
A central element of Derrida's critique is the concept of "différance," a term that plays on the dual meanings of the French word "différer" — to delay and to differ. This concept suggests that meaning is always postponed and differentiated, never fully present or fixed. This challenges the traditional philosophical pursuit of absolute, final meanings.
Derrida also critiques the Western emphasis on speech over writing, known as "phonocentrism." He argues that writing has been unjustly marginalized and should be regarded as equally important in the creation of meaning. This critique extends to what he refers to as the "metaphysics of presence," the inclination to privilege presence (as in speech, or presence in the moment) as the foundation of meaning.
Through deconstructing these assumptions, Derrida seeks to demonstrate that the structures of Western philosophy are less stable and coherent than they appear. He aims to expose the inherent contradictions and instabilities within philosophical systems, advocating for a more fluid and dynamic understanding of concepts. This approach encourages openness to multiple interpretations and meanings, reflecting the complexity and ambiguity inherent in human experience.
Video 3:
3.1. Ferdinand de Saussureian concept of language (that meaning is arbitrary, relational, constitutive)
Ferdinand de Saussure, a pioneering figure in linguistics, proposed that the connection between signifiers (words) and their signifieds (meanings) is arbitrary. This implies that there is no inherent or natural bond between a word and the concept it represents. For instance, the term "sister" bears no intrinsic link to the idea of a female sibling; it is merely a societal convention. Saussure also highlighted that meaning is relational, arising from the distinctions and connections between words rather than any inherent properties they possess. In this view, meaning is constructed through a network of social agreements and differences, rather than being rooted in fixed associations.
3.2. How Derrida deconstructs the idea of arbitrariness?
Derrida builds on Saussure's ideas by asserting that the meaning of a word is not only arbitrary but also inherently unstable and never fully fixed. He argues that meaning is perpetually deferred, relying on other words for its definition and constantly shifting. For example, when you consult a dictionary, the definition of one word is provided through other words, which themselves require further definitions, leading to an infinite chain. Derrida encapsulates this concept in his term "différance," signifying that meaning is always in flux, continuously evolving and never entirely present or complete. As a result, the pursuit of an ultimate, absolute meaning is futile, as meaning is always relational and endlessly deferred.
3.3. Concept of metaphysics of presence
The "metaphysics of presence" is a philosophical concept critiqued by Derrida, drawing from Heidegger's influence. It refers to the Western philosophical tendency to prioritize presence — the belief that for something to be real or meaningful, it must be immediate, tangible, or present. For example, in language, existence is often equated with presence, as seen in the use of "is" to signify being. Derrida challenges this emphasis, arguing that it overlooks the importance of absence, deferral, and the relational nature of meaning. He demonstrates that ideas such as being, identity, and meaning are constructed through binary oppositions (like presence/absence and speech/writing) that are inherently unstable and interdependent. By deconstructing these oppositions, Derrida exposes the instability and complexity at the heart of Western philosophy, questioning the idea that meaning or truth can ever be fully fixed or present.
Video 4:
Difference
4.1. Derridean concept of DifferAnce
Derrida’s notion of "différance" lies at the heart of his philosophy and is purposefully intricate. The term blends two French verbs: "différer," meaning to differ, and "déférer," meaning to defer. Through this concept, Derrida emphasizes that meaning in language is not static but perpetually shifting. It arises from the differences between words, which are never fully resolved. "Différance" encapsulates the dual notion that meaning is both differentiated and deferred — it is continually postponed and never entirely present or complete. As a result, understanding a word or concept requires an ongoing process of interpretation and reinterpretation, rather than reaching a final, absolute meaning.
4.2. Infinite play of meaning
Derrida proposes that meaning is an "endless play of signifiers," implying that understanding a word always leads to other words, which themselves direct us to further words, creating a never-ending chain of references. For instance, consulting a dictionary for a word provides definitions composed of other terms, which also require clarification, resulting in an infinite cycle. This suggests that meaning is never final or absolute; it is always shifting and perpetually deferred through connections to other signifiers. This ongoing deferral and interplay ensure that no term or concept can possess a fixed, stable meaning.
4.3. DIfferAnce = to differ + to defer
The term "différance" cleverly combines two related processes
To Differ: This concept focuses on how meaning is derived from the distinctions between words. For example, the meaning of "cat" becomes clear partly because it is not "dog," "rat," or "bat." The significance of each word is defined through its differences from others.
To Defer: This idea underscores that meaning is perpetually delayed or deferred. When we attempt to understand a word, it directs us to other words, which in turn lead to more words, creating a continuous chain where a definitive meaning is never fully attained.
Video 5:
5. Structure, Sign and Play
5.1. Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences
Jacques Derrida's essay "Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences," presented at a 1966 conference, is a foundational text that marks the emergence of deconstruction and the shift from structuralism to post-structuralism. In this essay, Derrida critiques structuralism by exposing its inherent contradictions. While structuralism sets out to critique metaphysics and science, it simultaneously relies on the very assumptions it seeks to challenge. Derrida contends that structures are not as fixed or stable as structuralists suggest; instead, the meanings of signs within any structure are always fluid, subject to reinterpretation and change. This fundamental instability is central to Derrida's philosophy. He introduces deconstruction as a method for examining and understanding texts by questioning and dismantling the binary oppositions and assumptions underlying structures. Through this process, deconstruction uncovers the ambiguities and inconsistencies within these frameworks, revealing their lack of solidity or permanence.
5.2. Explain: "Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique."
The phrase "Language bears within itself the necessity of its own critique" implies that language inherently invites questioning due to its assumptions and limitations. As a tool for communication, language is imperfect and ambiguous, exposing its flaws whenever it is used. Derrida highlights that language is not just a medium for expression but also a subject of scrutiny, constantly evolving as we question and refine it. This dynamic process ensures that our understanding of language and the world remains open to reinterpretation.
Video 6:
Yale School
6.1. The Yale School: the hub of the practitioners of Deconstruction in the literary theories
Yale University was pivotal in introducing Derrida's ideas to America, transforming deconstruction from a European philosophical approach into a cornerstone of American literary criticism. This development positioned Yale as a prominent and often debated hub for deconstruction. Key figures like Paul de Man, J. Hillis Miller, Harold Bloom, and Geoffrey Hartman—dubbed the "Yale hermeneutic Mafia"—played a central role in promoting and solidifying deconstruction within literary studies.
6.2. The characteristics of the Yale School of Deconstruction
The Yale School's approach to deconstruction is defined by several distinctive features:
1. Language as a Construct: The Yale School emphasized that literature is fundamentally a construct of language, filled with figurative elements. They argued that language is an inherently unreliable medium for communication, leading to diverse and often conflicting interpretations. This is particularly evident in the ambiguity created by figurative devices such as metaphors and idiomatic expressions.
2. Critique of Aesthetic and Sociological Approaches: The Yale critics challenged both formalist and sociological approaches to literature. They argued that language does not offer a transparent reflection of society, as its figurative nature complicates straightforward interpretation. For them, aesthetic pleasure and social insight are illusions crafted by the nature of language itself.
3. Focus on Romanticism: The Yale School offered new interpretations of Romantic literature, often challenging traditional readings. They prioritized allegory over metaphor in Romantic poetry, emphasizing the complexity and multiplicity of meanings within these texts. This focus on Romanticism underscored their commitment to exploring the diverse and often contradictory ways in which literary works can be understood.
Video 7
Other Schools and deconstruction
7.1.How other schools like New Historicism, Cultural Materialism, Feminism, Marxism and Postcolonial theorists used Deconstruction?
New Historicism applies deconstruction to examine the interplay between texts and their historical contexts, highlighting how texts are influenced by history and how history is interpreted through texts. Cultural Materialism incorporates Derrida's ideas to stress the material aspects of language and uncover hidden ideological motives. Feminism and Gender Theory use deconstruction to challenge patriarchal binaries, such as male versus female, offering a means to subvert dominant patriarchal narratives. Marxism utilizes deconstruction to explore power dynamics and economic structures within texts, revealing underlying social relationships. Post-Colonial Studies employ deconstruction to deconstruct colonial discourse from within, exposing the ideological foundations of colonial narratives and reinterpreting dominant narratives imposed by colonizers.
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