Difference between revisions of "Deconstruction"
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| − | [[Image:800px-Crop Book of Isaiah 2006-06-06.jpg|thumb|300px]]'''Deconstruction''' is the [[postmodernism|postmodernistic]] belief that each person interprets a [[text]] in light of their own experiences, [[bias]]es, and [[prejudice]]s.<ref>''Understanding the Times''(Summit Ministries, Manitou Springs, Colorado 2006)</ref> Thus, no text can have the same meaning for all [[people]]. A text's [[message]] depends entirely upon personal interpretation. Deconstruction holds an individual's interpretation of a text to as more important than the text itself, and is a [[liberal]] theory of interpretation. | + | [[Image:800px-Crop Book of Isaiah 2006-06-06.jpg|thumb|300px|The Holy Bible]]'''Deconstruction''' is the [[postmodernism|postmodernistic]] belief that each person interprets a [[text]] in light of their own experiences, [[bias]]es, and [[prejudice]]s.<ref>''Understanding the Times''(Summit Ministries, Manitou Springs, Colorado 2006)</ref> Thus, no text can have the same meaning for all [[people]]. A text's [[message]] depends entirely upon personal interpretation. Deconstruction holds an individual's interpretation of a text to as more important than the text itself, and is a [[liberal]] theory of interpretation. |
Deconstruction is applied not only to [[literature]], but to all of [[reality]]. [[postmodernism|Postmodernists]] claim that reality is constructed by each individual based on their unique ideas, biases, prejudices, etc. Thus, there can be no universal [[truth]] because reality is different for each individual. | Deconstruction is applied not only to [[literature]], but to all of [[reality]]. [[postmodernism|Postmodernists]] claim that reality is constructed by each individual based on their unique ideas, biases, prejudices, etc. Thus, there can be no universal [[truth]] because reality is different for each individual. | ||
Revision as of 00:29, February 18, 2008
Deconstruction is the postmodernistic belief that each person interprets a text in light of their own experiences, biases, and prejudices.[1] Thus, no text can have the same meaning for all people. A text's message depends entirely upon personal interpretation. Deconstruction holds an individual's interpretation of a text to as more important than the text itself, and is a liberal theory of interpretation.
Deconstruction is applied not only to literature, but to all of reality. Postmodernists claim that reality is constructed by each individual based on their unique ideas, biases, prejudices, etc. Thus, there can be no universal truth because reality is different for each individual.
Deconstruction in Practice
In an essay entitled "The Death of the Author",[2] Roland Barthes argued that the origin of a text is unimportant, and that only the interpretation of the reader matters. He declared that this personal interpretation frees the text from the tyranny of the intended meaning given it by the author. No matter what a writer writes, or what they mean to say through their writing, their words will never have a universal meaning, and will be understood in a thousand different ways by the readers.
Deconstructionistic thinking has crept stealthily into American public schools. From elementary school, children are encouraged to share "What this story mean to me", rather than searching for the meaning the author intended when he wrote the text. This dangerously teaches children to believe that they can create their own meaning for a text, and even their own version of reality and truth. This relativistic view of meaning has invaded public school classrooms, purporting to encourage "love of literature", while indoctrinating students with postmoderistic ideas.[3]
Deconstruction and Christianity
Deconstruction is hostile to Christianity, and cannot be reconciled with the Christian worldview. The Bible was written with specific meaning and concrete teachings. Christians seek to discover the meaning of God's Word, and apply the Bible's truths to their lives. Deconstruction would render the Bible another meaningless piece of text to be bent into any meaning the reader sees fit.
In addition, Christianity teaches universal truth and ethics, while Deconstruction teaches that universal truth is nonexistent.
Deconstruction and Law
Critical Legal Studies is Deconstruction applied to Law. It involves dissecting and critiquing a law to find its subjective meaning, regardless of what it objectively states. Critical Legal Studies result in a view of law as tool to obtain what one wants. Susan Estich said, "You believe in principle; I believe in politics."[4] Deconstruction endangers law as we know it by rejecting standards of justice derived from religious moral absolutes and using law as a tool to beat political opponents into submission.[5]
See Also
References
- ↑ Understanding the Times(Summit Ministries, Manitou Springs, Colorado 2006)
- ↑ Roland Barthes, The Death of the Author, (Aspen 1968)
- ↑ Walter Russell, Playing With Fire www.boundless.org/features
- ↑ Susan Estich in an online letter to Stuart Taylor Jr., www.slate.com/id/3628/entry/23734
- ↑ Understanding the Times(Summit Ministries, Manitou Springs, Colorado 2006) page 312