ALL MY BINARY OPPOSITIONS: DERRIDA, THE SIMPSONS, AND FILIAL RELATIONSHIPS

by Julie Wroblewski

Contrary to popular belief, Derrida has not yet entered the realm of passé, joining the ranks of penis envy, jelly bracelets, and power lunches. The oozing tentacles of deconstructionism reach all the way to pop culture and mass entertainment, specifically The Simpsons. If you would like to get acquainted with that playful Frenchman or simply refresh your memory, keep reading.

SUNDAY! SUNDAY!! SUNDAY!!! At the state fair grounds, Derrida vs. Plato

Plato says:

Plato, the reigning champion of Western ideology, insists that binary oppositions are the only way to go. In the Phaedrus, he claims that speech and writing fit this format. Speech (or Logos) is good, more direct and clearer in meaning. Writing is bad, orphaned from its author and its meaning often obscured as a result. These relationships resembles those found between fathers and sons. Logos becomes a father figure for writing, because it provides a point of origin and power for writing. Again, we have a binary opposition of father vs. son, with the "father" being better, more intelligent, and more powerful than the "son." This opposition often leads to aggressive, even murderous intentions between the two.

Remember: Writing (words):authors' ideas :: speech (words):speakers' ideas :: sons:fathers.

You will be tested.

Derrida says:

On the surface at least, this paradigm might work. But any kind of extended examination of the situation reveals a much more complicated relationship. The relationship between father and son is not an absolute that lies outside of language, but rather something that our uses of language create. Someone can be both father and son simultaneously. Furthermore, there is no absolute truth such that speech and writing hold a generator/engendered relationship. Fathers, sons, words, speech: it all gets turned into a big sticky spiderweb of connections and shifts of meaning and power.

For more on Derrida's thoughts on Plato, click here.

D'Oh!

If you have had enough of theory and want to romp in Springfield, click here. Mmmmm . . . free goo.