This document provides an introduction to post-structuralism and deconstruction. It discusses some key concepts from structuralism like signifiers and signified. Post-structuralism rejects the idea that language can convey definite meanings, and that meanings are unstable and open to various interpretations. Derrida's concept of "différance" emphasizes how language lacks a final or central meaning. The document also discusses power theories and how knowledge is used to marginalize subgroups. It defines the subaltern as suppressed classes and argues their histories have been told from the dominant perspective.

1. Brief Introduction Of: Post
structuralism & Deconstruction
Paper: Cultural Studies
Prepared By: Lajja Bhatt
Roll no:18
Semester:2
Guided by: Dr. Dilip Barad
Maharaja Krishnakumarsihji Bhavnagar
University

2. Structuralism
According to Ferdinand De Saussure Stated
three fundamental assumptions of the
language: Arbitrariness,
Relational
Systematic
Language occurs in our very nature of
perception of reality.
We need to understands Signifiers &
Signified.

3. Structuralism
It has ‘binary opposition
Signifier Signified= meaning
‘No Language or word is written without
context’ Stanly Fish.
No language has a meaning.
Language is the system in itself.
There are Lang & Bricolage

4. Poststrucuralism & Deconstruction
• It conveys the different meaning to the two
different groups.
• There is the free play of the meaning.
• Language is incapable to convey the truth.
• There is Lacuna, a decoding of interpretations
• Derrida has given theory of ‘Daffarance’
• There is no such meaning lied in the word.

5. Poststrucuralism & Deconstruction
• There is no center.
• There is no margins.
• Structure defines meanings, center & margins.
• There is an Aphoria.
• Derrida Defines that there is no final meaning
because each time you arrive at a set of ‘key
terms’ or meaning, you discover need to move
on to more work.

6. Power Theory
• There is the dominance of the knowledge,
generated by Powerful People, over the
society.
• According to it the person who is not suitable
within the definition of Knowledge is
abnormal, Subaltern & marginalized
• For example it here is a fox with tail enter into
the area where there are no tails to foxes over
there , the fox is abnormal rather then having
normal anatomy of body.

7. Power Theory
• Ideology
• I have come to learn that their pursuit of
perfection is really a disguise for insecurity.

8. Power Theory

9. The Subaltern
• Gayatri Chakravarty Spivak has borrowed the
word ‘Subaltern ‘ from Italian Marxist Antonio
Gramci.
• It denotes the suppressed class i.e. the
marginalized people.
• The intellectuals should put the positions of
the suppressed before the society.
• The retelling of the history should be there as
the history is of the elit class or the POWER.

10. The Subaltern
Social
Formation
Subaltern Dominant
Group
Ideology
Class Working Class Capitalist Capitalism
Empire Native European Colonialism
Patriarchy Women Men Gender
Nation Ethnic
Minorities
Majority Nationalism

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