Introduction to Derrida & Deconstruction

Our first project for the new semester will be themed upon deconstruction.  The opportunity to look at this field, prior to starting the semester presented itself by chance to some degree, so I started to prepare early.

Having searched the University's Library resources for Art and Deconstruction, the following titles were suggested;

Art Since 1900;  Modernity, Anti-Modernity and Post-odernism.  By H Foster & R. Krous (2004) Pub. Thames and Holden.  (Lib Reference 709.04 ART.    - This is a huge book, has loads of information, but is rec

Talking Art - Interviews with Artists since 1976,  Lib Reference 709.22 TAL...  Another huge book... Rather boring too, didn't seem to have the inspiring information I was hoping for...

Art;  Key Contemporary Thinkers (2007) Library reference 701.COS

Deconstruction; A Students Guide.  Library Ref; 724.91 DEC  This is an Architectural Book, published by the Architects (???) Academy....

and then finally, I chose to look at the philosopher himself, Derrida.  Understanding Derrida, Lib Ref 194.DER

I found the Icon Books, Introducing Derrida most useful.  He seems to follow a theme that at first glance, appears to be 'capricious contrarianism'!  It seems that anything put forward to him as an idea is cleaved in to two parts.  (This is usual for Western Philosophy, as it fits with the discourse based on the definition of opposites, which are then discussed with distinct determinist views, based on evidence, either 'for' or 'against' a proposition).  However, in Derrida's approach of Deconstruction, the two opposites are manipulated to find potential mid-ground, (which in some of the examples I have seen, could be described as tenuous or even fatuous links). This middle ground, or 'in-between-ness' he describes as the "Deferance" which is populated with "undecide-ables".   If I was to apply his own approach to his own working practices, I could suggest that "Differance" sounds too much like Differ being added to the word "France", from which he is an (Algerian born) citizen.   Maybe he wants to 'plug' the French?  Set France as a leader in philosophy perhaps?

Using his own literary logic again, 'Di' from the greek means two, as in two parts, or to cleave, as in dissect, Divide, etc (the same as 'sunder' in old english)... Added to the Philosopher Foucault = Di-Foucault

Difficile = Difficult  ..... Well, (Example>) 'I always thought that the French could be difficult at times' ( this has two meanings, isthat the french language, or the french people?)....

Coming back to the word 'plug' again, this also has two (or more) meanings... As in 'to plug a publication or idea' means to promote the same... Or it can also mean to stop something or insert something into a socket (or mouth)... So, the above is all a little example of how pretty much anything can be misconstrued, or deconstructed....

Derrida
Derision            (......To ridicule)
Division            (...... To split in two)

Diversion          (......To change course)
.............  Where to now?