What contemporary connections can we make with the concept of Deconstruction via Difference for the word you selected?

The center is not the center. — Jacques Derrida

We learned from our reading that the term diffrance represents a synthesis of Derrida’s semiotic and philosophical thinking. Derridas notion of the same emerges from a question about concepts like identity, ideality, and the concept itself.

Here’s what we know so far: Derrida rejected absolutes and adamantly believed that a text could uphold many possibilities at the same time. (Huck as hero/Huck as villain, right?). This is where diffrance comes in.

Diffrance is the difference that shatters the cult of identity and the dominance of Self over Other; it means that there is no origin (originary unit). Diffrer [to differ] is to not be identical. So we can say that Diffrance is the word that Derrida coins to describe and perform the way in which any single meaning of a concept or text arises only by the effacement of other possible meanings, which are themselves only deferred, left over, for their possible activation in other contexts.

For your first formal paper, select ONE of the following readings:

Jennings,
Stanford,
Goldhill,
Naussbaum,
Or select ONE of the readings from next week to work with (look ahead if you want to):

the American Paradox chapter
or Enrenreich. (NOT THE DERRIDA OR SEGER TEXT)
Using the Derrida essay excerpt from class, write a paper that argues how a claim based on A SINGLE WORD presented in the selected essay reflect the ideas espoused by Derrida (a semiotic analysis, Signs pp 28-29)

To organize your paper, have the introduction and next 1-2 body paragraphs summarize and analyze the article you selected. Then introduce the word you are selecting from the article and present your thesis your understanding of the meanings of the word.
What contemporary connections can we make with the concept of Deconstruction via Difference for the word you selected?
How does this idea of Difference regarding the meaning of the word affect the exhibition of modern ideas, expectations, and understandings?
How do these different meanings of the words alter how we approach ideas we see presented in media?
Here is what you will need to write about in your essay:

Do you think the multiple meanings of the word change our understanding of the word and how we look at the article?
The next 3-4 paragraphs should be your deconstruction of the word. What are other common connotations? What associations are there that go deeper?
What other meanings/ disassociations could there be for your word (this is where Derrida and deconstruction come in heavily). How does this idea of Difference affect the exhibition of modern ideas, expectations, and understandings of the word you have selected?
How does this alter how we approach the word as we see presented in media? Why are they important and what examples can you provide in regards to these meanings?
How do these deeper meanings change our understanding of the word and the article as a whole? .
Essay Requirements:

4-5 pages (1000-1200 words, about 7-8 paragraphs see below),
typed, double-spaced, MLA format.
Format: Name and pg # on each page. Standard 1″ (or so) margins.
Cover sheet is optional but it does not count as one of your pages
Please use a standard font – Times, Bookman, and size your font at 11 or 12, anything smaller is hard to read, bigger is sucking up space.
Double Space your lines it is difficult for me to make notes on single spaced essays, and it really hurts my eyes.
You must quote and thus cite your article AND the DERRIDA excerpt– so you will have a minimum of 2 sources in your works cited. Any other sources from the class or from outside source must also be cited correctly.
What to include: In addition to an introduction and conclusion, you need to include:

a general summary paragraph of the article;
a paragraph that specifically identifies the claim (thesis), data, and warrants of the article (the core arguments) AND THE ONE WORD you will deconstruct
Your thesis can come at the end of the second paragraph;
and one/two paragraphs each that connect to Derrida per the prompt #1-3.
In addition to the above article, feel free to reference Derrida, and book chapters The Hollywood Sign, On the Air, and The American Paradox.

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