Deconstruction.Derrida (Transitions) by Julian Wolfreys

by Julian Wolfreys

This text contests the notion that what Jacques Derrida does can be turned into a theory for literary interpretation. It also questions the idea that there is a critical methodology called deconstruction which can be applied to literary texts in a programmatic fashion. In this introductory study to the work of Jacques Derrida, Julian Wolfreys introduces the reader to a range of Derrida's interests and concerns, while offering readings, informed by Derrida's thought, of canonical and less well known literary works.

Genres: Philosophy

Paperback

First published July 15, 1998

Reviews

[Tilly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll confess from the start: I have a block with Derrida. Some theory - The Gift, The Secret - I find interesting, and there are some phenomenal lines in his work, but as a whole I don't think it should be so difficult to understand someone's thrust of thought. Is it good thinking if it's damn near impenetrable? I'm not sure. Someone stop Butler, Spivak etc. editing and translating each other, dear god.

Anyway, somehow Wolfreys managed to make him even more impenetrable - a rare feat. Wolfreys repeatedly states that there is no such thing as 'deconstruction' as a methodology, which I even agree with, but he stated this so much that I almost lost the will to read the rest of the book. What's the point? If it can't exist? Urgh.

Furthermore, the whole text featured this idea of 'ethical reading' that at no point explained what that term even meant. Eventually I pieced together that Wolfreys seemed to mean the idea of remaining open to the text, to not shutting it down - basically, READING A WORK OF FICTION. I don't know. I left this book even less impressed with Derrida than before. Which is a shame. Next up: Deleuze. Mmm.