Re: what is literature? the correct reading

Scottie,

As I said before, your claim that "deconstructions" as a term (or
"phenomenologies" as a term, for instance, or many others that I could think
of) is somehow more like the term "MRI" than the term "literature" would need
to be demonstrated.

Especially since Derrida has written repeatedly that "deconstruction" is not
a method (and should always be written in the plural as "deconstructions").
And especially since I can see no clear way that the term "deconstruction"
is, as you claim, a "subsidiary" of the term "literature."

I'm still waiting for the demonstration.

I suspect you will be unable to do it.

And I suspect this because your distinction is a hopelessly vague and
imprecise one and therefore tells us nothing about the term or about its
possible definitions.

Once again, for those who like simple, single paragraph definitions:

"Deconstruction" is a term used to refer most specifically to a set of
diverse philosophical texts and readings written by Jacques Derrida between
the years of 1967 and 1980, roughly.   Derrida himself uses the term quite
sparingly and emphasizes the fact that his readings during this period should
each be considered on their own merits and not as part of any school or
movement or even any single method or technique.   People interested in an
accurate history of the term's uses and its most accurate meanings are
therefore advised to examine those texts.

Those not willing to read carefully will not learn precisely to what the term
refers or the many specific moments of reading that are included when the
term is used. That is the price of not reading. Those willing to read can
then offer critiques and specific readings in response which deal
specifically with the texts and the words on those pages and I will be more
than happy to respond in kind.

The rest, as we can now see, is just idle chatter.

All the best,

--John

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Received on Fri Mar 7 17:49:14 2003