Explain the notion of Diffe'rance in relation to Postmodernist literary theory using appropriate illustrations.
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Explain the notion of Diffe'rance in relation to Postmodernist literary theory using appropriate illustrations.
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Answer:
Différance refers to the perpetual gap and deferment of meaning that exists both within language itself and between a literary text and its readers. It is a concept originated by French philosopher Jacques Derrida.
Specifically, différance points to two related dimensions at play:
Difference - The meaning of any word or text differs based on its contrast to other surrounding words and contexts. Meaning thus relies on relationships of difference.
Deferral - The final, fixed meaning of any text is never fully achieved, but endlessly shifted and interpreted anew by readers within different frameworks. Stable meaning is always provisional and deferred.
In literature, this suggests no text has a single, intrinsic universal meaning. The author's intended meaning itself shifts once the reader subjectively interprets the text through their own lenses.
Différance is a key concept in postmodernism which embraces the uncertainty and instability of meaning. It critiques the idea that any text or work can communicate a definitive, totalizing truth. Meaning remains contingent, plural, and in flux.