The Post-Structuralism Approach presentation
- 1. POST-STRUCTURALISM APPROACH THE ELT 322 Code 2836 Group 6
- 2. 2 POST-STRUCTURALISM IN LITERARY CRITICISM Post-structuralism is a critical theory that emerged in the mid-20th century as a reaction to structuralism, challenging the idea that meaning in language and literature is fixed and stable.
- 3. 3 ORIGINS AND THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS Post-structuralism arose as a critique of structuralism, which was grounded in the linguistic theories of Ferdinand de Saussure. Structuralists believed that meaning is derived from structures of language, where words gain significance through their relationships with other words.
- 4. 4 ORIGINS AND THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS Jacques Derrida's concept of "deconstruction" is central to post-structuralism. Derrida's famous assertion that "there is nothing outside the text” suggests that meaning is not inherent but constructed through an endless interplay of signs. Similarly, Roland Barthes, in "The Death of the Author", posited that the reader, rather than the author, is the primary agent in generating meaning, thereby decentralizing authorial intent.
- 5. 5 KEY CONCEPT IN POST-STRUCTURALIST CRITICISM One of the fundamental principles of post- structuralism is the rejection of absolute truth. Instead of viewing texts as repositories of fixed meanings, post- structuralists argue that meaning is subjective and contingent upon interpretation. This leads to the idea that every reading of a text can yield multiple, sometimes contradictory, meanings.
- 6. 6 APPLICATION IN LITERARY CRITICISM In literary analysis, post-structuralism encourages critics to interrogate texts by exploring ambiguities, contradictions, and the instability of meaning. A post- structuralist reading of a novel might focus on how language subverts its own claims or how different readers might interpret the same passage in various ways.
- 7. 7 ALICE IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Caroll
- 8. 8 "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" follows young Alice as she tumbles down a rabbit hole into the fantastical and illogical world of Wonderland. There, she encounters a series of bizarre characters, including a perpetually late White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and March Hare at their chaotic tea party, the enigmatic Cheshire Cat, and the tyrannical Queen of Hearts. Alice's journey is marked by constant shifts in size and bewildering encounters, exploring themes of childhood, identity, and the absurdity of adult rules. As the chaos escalates, particularly during the Queen's nonsensical trial, Alice realizes it's all a dream and awakens back in the familiar world, leaving behind the surreal and whimsical realm of Wonderland.
- 9. 9 ALICE IN WONDERLAND: THEORY AND POST-STRUCTURALISM by IvyPanda https://ivypanda.com/essays/alice-in-wonderland- and-the-theory-of-post-structuralism/
- 10. 10 Deconstruction of Meaning: The author emphasizes post-structuralism's core tenet: the rejection of fixed, stable meaning. They argue that "meaning is in process any time" and that a clear, constant interpretation of the text is impossible. They apply this by suggesting that the very question of "what is real?" in Wonderland becomes a deconstruction of the concept of "reality" itself, as post- structuralism posits that meanings are unstable and relative. The mixing of reality and fantasy embodies the post-structuralist concept.
- 11. 11 Language and Social Organization: 1. Playing with language The author uses the Tea Party scene as a prime example. They suggest that Alice's engagement in the nonsensical, witty exchanges demonstrates how language can be used to "control the atmosphere within the social organization, play with words, and not to stop on one possible meaning." This highlights how language can be a tool for navigating and challenging social norms, even if those norms are absurd.
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- 13. 12 Language and Social Organization: 2. Challenging fixed meaning The author seems to imply that the chaotic nature of the Tea Party, where language doesn't function in a straightforward, communicative way, is itself a deconstruction of language's presumed purpose.
- 14. 13 Power Dynamics and Gender: 1. Reversal of gender roles The author argues that the Queen of Hearts embodies a disruption of Victorian gender norms. Her power and dominance ("Off with their heads!") challenge the expected subservience of women. The King's reliance on her decisions, even when he dislikes the Cheshire Cat, is presented as a deliberate inversion of traditional male authority.
- 15. 14 Power Dynamics and Gender: 2. Critique of societal norms By highlighting the Queen's power, the author implies that Carroll is critiquing the rigid gender roles of his time and suggesting the possibility of alternative power structures.
- 16. 15 Breaking Labels and Challenging Norms: 1. Transgression of boundaries The author points to Alice's ability to enter the rabbit hole, despite being physically larger, as an example of breaking physical "labels." More broadly, the entire narrative blurs the lines between reality and fantasy.
- 17. 16 Breaking Labels and Challenging Norms: 2. Subversion of expectations The author suggests that the story's power lies in its ability to unsettle the reader by constantly challenging their assumptions about how the world should work. This aligns with post- structuralism's emphasis on questioning established systems of thought.
- 19. 18 "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka tells the unsettling story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. His family, initially shocked and horrified, gradually adjusts to his new form, though they struggle with the shame and burden of his existence. Gregor, trapped in his room, experiences a growing sense of isolation and alienation, his human thoughts and feelings contrasting starkly with his insect body. As his family's financial situation deteriorates, their resentment towards him increases, and they begin to view him as a repulsive creature rather than a family member. Ultimately, Gregor dies alone and neglected, and his family, relieved of their burden, quickly moves on, signifying the dehumanizing effects of societal pressures and the fragility of familial bonds.
- 20. 19 A POST-STRUCTURALIST CRITIQUE OF KAFKA'S 'METAMORPHOSIS' by Joaquin The Chihuahua https://joaquinthechihuahua.blogspot.com/2012/04/p ost-structuralist-critique-of-kafkas.html?m=1
- 21. 20 Explanation of Post-Structuralism: 1. Arbitrariness of language Meaning isn't inherent in words but is socially constructed. 2. Deconstruction Uncovering hidden, unconscious meanings and contradictions within a text. 3. Decentered universe The absence of fixed points or absolutes; everything is relative.
- 22. 21 Application of Post-Structuralism to "The Metamorphosis": 1. Deconstructing the "Human/Animal" binary The author identifies the sentence, "Was he an animal, that music could move him so?" as a key deconstruction. They argue that it subverts the traditional association of "animal" with negativity and "human" with culture and refinement. By suggesting that an "animal" (Gregor) can be moved by music, the text destabilizes the clear distinction between the two concepts. The implication is that the qualities we assign to "human" and "animal" are not inherent but are arbitrary constructs.
- 23. 22 Application of Post-Structuralism to "The Metamorphosis": 2. Challenging character associations The author analyzes the description of Gregor's father "hissing like a wild man." They argue that "hissing" is typically associated with reptiles or insects, not with a human father. This unexpected verb disrupts our conventional understanding of what a father should be and further reinforces the idea that language is arbitrary and meaning is unstable. There is nothing inherent in the signifier (the word "father") that dictates its signified (the concept of fatherhood).
- 24. 23 Emphasis on Contradiction and Instability: The author consistently highlights contradictions and paradoxes within the text. The examples of "human/animal" and "father/hissing" demonstrate how the story undermines fixed categories and exposes the fluidity of meaning. These contradictions, according to the author, are evidence that our understanding of the world is based on arbitrary linguistic and social
- 25. Through a post-structuralist lens, both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Metamorphosis can be seen as novels that subvert traditional notions of identity, reality, and meaning. In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Carroll employs a fantastical narrative that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, mirroring the post-structuralist notion that meaning is always in flux. 24 Similarly, Kafka's The Metamorphosis challenges traditional notions of identity through Gregor Samsa's transformation into a giant insect, highlighting the instability of human existence. Both novels, therefore, can be seen as critiques of essentialism, which posits that identity and meaning are fixed and inherent.
- 26. However, while both novels challenge traditional notions of identity and reality, they differ in their approach. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is characterized by a playful, absurd humor, which serves to underscore the instability of meaning. In contrast, The Metamorphosis is marked by a sense of alienation and despair, highlighting the darker aspects of post-structuralist thought. 25 Furthermore, while Alice's narrative is marked by a sense of fluidity and movement, Gregor's transformation is characterized by a sense of stasis and confinement.
- 27. 26 These differences in approach reflect the distinct historical and cultural contexts in which the novels were written, with Carroll's novel reflecting the playful, whimsical spirit of Victorian nonsense verse, and Kafka's novel reflecting the anxiety and disillusionment of modernist Europe. Ultimately, both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Metamorphosis can be seen as post-structuralist novels that challenge traditional notions of identity, reality, and meaning. Through their use of absurdity, playfulness, and fragmentation, both novels reflect the instability and uncertainty of human existence, highlighting the provisional nature of meaning and identity.
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