Post Structuralism (Derrida, Foucault, Jean)

CONTEMPORARY THEORY
Post Structuralism
Saman Ijaz (anthropologist) QAU

Post Structuralism
Introduction
• Structuralism was an intellectual movement in 1950’s and 1960’s.
• Structuralist believes in universal truth. They emphasize logical and
scientific nature of its results. Considered descriptive of present.
• Post Structuralism emerged in France during 1960’s as a movement
critiquing structuralism. P.S. is grounded in the concept of over
determinism.
“Theory is not separate from reality nor reality is separate”
from theory.” PS doubt about the existence of concrete reality. Ideas,
reality depend upon constructed discourse.

Post Structuralism
• PS reject the notion of single truth. And criticize grand theories that claim
to uncover truth including religion, social science and realism.
• PS are not relativist but they argued that “If universal truth exist, is
UNKOWABLE” because of multiple truth and meanings.
• We live in a de-centered world but do not, cannot know where we are. We
say what it relates to us not to all.
• PS accept the structuralist idea of universals in human thought as
expressed on cultural phenomenon through binary opposition and
subsequently applied as power and relationships that are created in
presence of polarizing forces. PS Cultural phenomenon are fluid and flux.

Post Structuralism
• PS emphasize the role of knowledge in achieving and sustaining
power. Knowledge is always centered contextual, partial and
fragmentary but is never neural.
• For PS to understand an object it is necessary to understand the
system of knowledge that produced the object. PS emphasize
history (diachronic) to analyze the descriptive(synchronous)
concepts.
• PS as an anthropological theory: Interpret ways through which
power is expressed in societies and culture by central on the notion
that power is relational and thus act as economic agent. They were
interested in economic, social and political aspects of power.

Post Structuralism
• Social institutions are nothing but texts and
language. High level language (created by
western/dominant class): Low level language,
Primary meanings (Black is a colour): secondary
meanings (sign of sadness, rebellions, etc).
• Power is embedded in language. Language create
discrepancy, certain order.

Post Structuralism
• Major Work:
Michel Faucault (1926-1984)
Jacques Derrida (1930-2004)
Roland Barthes (1915-1980)
Jean Baudrillard (1929-2007)

Jacques Derrida
• Jacques Derrida: was a French, Jewish philosopher from Algeria.
• He Developed a critical theory called “Deconstruction Theory” that is
associated with PS.
• He is responsible for more than 40 published books as well as many
articles and speeches.
• He is known as the most difficult philosopher of the 20th century.
• Derrida is known as the father of deconstruction.
• He attacks upon the values of reason.
BOOK→ Grammatology: The scientific study of system.
• Idea behind the deconstruction is to deconstruct the working of strong
nation-states with power full immigration policies etc.

Jacques Derrida
• Influenced by Heidgger and Nietzsche Derrida accept
the Saussua idea that meaning lies in difference but
add idea that meaning also differ.
“There is nothing outside of the text”
LOGOCENTRICISM
• Knowledge is presented by Western people considered
as universal knowledge. They produced the idea this
one is beautiful this one is standard. Writer is of the
view it is not universal one.

LOGOCENTRICISM
This scientific approach has nothing to know about
logic but it represents Western dominance. There is no
equal representation of knowledge. Only yardstick of
beauty is presented by Western people.

LOGOCENTRICISM
• Why people accept Logo centrism? It is so called reality,
their knowledge is based on logic, this is only ultimate
knowledge.
• Who will define what is reason, logic?
• Western people define it and said their knowledge is
universal one. While reason is power of your mind to think
on a logical way and in every society pattern of reason is
different. So this rationality is also western dominance.
Derrida challenged that reason, there is no universal
reason. We should not follow intellectual authority as
purpose of these authorities is to access to power,
resources and dominance over others.

LOGOCENTRICISM
• Derrida is of the view that text is unstable. Meanings we attach with
it is also changeable. Basic purpose is to understand the text
internal meanings. Every meaning has a stratagem due to
suppression and repression. Rationality, reason all should be
destroyed then we will come to know the HIERARCHY. Power is
used here, you intentionally suppress people thinking. They did not
allow people to think outside of the box.
• Text contains several facts and contradictory meanings. Through
deconstruction we can brought meaning to the texts. There is
repression and suppression of idea of people. A person cannot
think outside box that is why paradigm bind him to remain in it.
Writer is of the view once we deconstruct the text we will come to
know the discrepancy. Inside every txt there is a mystery we need
to understand it.

DECONSTRUCTION
• All cultures are constructs of autonomous self contain words of
meanings. Derrida object on ethnographic research. They always
destroy natives understanding of people by his way of conveying
meanings. It is not humanly possible to explain one cultural
language into other. Derrida is of the view the time you take to
explain in this destroy language.
• He talks about the “THEATER OF CRUELITY”: Writer control whole
drama. He is dictator at the same time shows his ideas like actor act
e.g. hero, director handle it: same is the case in society. Society
should be liberated from these intellectuals. The only way to
liberate you that everyone should be a writer. Every one of us
should be a free thinker. There should not only deconstruction
there should also De-Centrism.

DE-CENTRISM
• Derrida is of the view that more authority should be
given to actor. Text is actor, let text decide the
meaning. Everyone is open, “Self Reflexivity” is a
process of knowledge creation. Once you have gone
through reflexivity you are free.
• You need certain consciousness, a certain state of
mind. You will then understand how to create
knowledge through writing. There is no future create
your future through writing. Study individual in action,
different things for different people.

Criticism
• Derrida did not provide any clear direction as
he only focuses on to destroy everything. If
everyone becomes a writer then it can create
more ambiguity in understanding reality, more
ambiguity expected through this.

Michel Foucault
Post Structuralist

Basic Intro..
• French Philosopher (1926-1984)
• Studied history, psychology, politics, literature
• He belongs to a rich family
• At age of 20, suffered from depression- which
was due to repressed emotions
• He die due to AIDS
• He was homosexual

Main Books
• Madness and Civilization (1961)
• Discipline and punishment (1975)
• Archeology of Knowledge (1969)
He disagree s structuralists and said
• No definite structures exists
• Its impossible to survey situation objectively
rather subjectivity always influences

• He borrowed Saussure concept parole and
langue and call discourse as parole because its
keep on changing
• He said, Discourse should be superior on
cultural grammar
• Social structures never remain same neither
culturally agreed by all

Foucault on Discourse..
• In Linguistics, Discourse is continuous speech but
according to Foucault discourse is the body of
knowledge used in service of power
• Discourse contain all traditions, norms, values,
text, symbols, words, expressions where
hierarchical power relations are found
• It is the discourse which determines context
(place of subject)
• Production of knowledge/discourse is always
limited or controlled and only socio-political
sanctioned discourse emerges

• He explains three factors which limit the
expansion of discourse
1. Taboo
2. Madness
3. Institutional Ratification

Taboo
• Taboo s are banned or unacceptable topics
which are socially looked down e.g. woman
sexuality, incest, homosexuality
• So people don’t talk about such topics
generally so no discourse found- limiting
discourse to spread

Madness
• Mad people cannot produce discourse and no
one accept their knowledge because its
always irrational
• For example, “Elephants are flying in the air”
such statement has no logic so nobody will
accept this discourse
• The concept of maddness differs from one
society to another but still general idea is
same

Institutional Ratification
• Different institutions produce discourse like
schools, universities, labs, news agencies, media
etc
• Such institutions regulate knowledge production
and consumption
• For example, “Sun revolves around earth” until
institutions don't ratify or approve above
statement , no one will believe it
• Such discourse is always kept in control which is
harmful for existing power structure

Shift of Discourse Paradigm
• Knowledge structure keeps on changing with the passage of time
• For example, the concept of homosexuals emerged in 19C.
• Three type of discourses were produce to define the subject(
homosexual) which were
1. Medical ( sick and abnormal)
2. Legal (Illegal)
3. Moral (Immoral and punishable)
• So people were positioned as sick, illegal and should be
punished.
• But in today's era, some of western countries have legalized the
homosexuality so discourse keeps on changing

The subjective self
• Foucault said, “ we think that we are free agents
but we are historically produced.”
• We have positioned ourselves to pre defined
conceptual map, creating our identities
• For example, for Sara a good woman is the one
who has freedom of action but conceptual map(
dominant discourse) says that good woman is the
one who is well mannered. So Sara rejects her
own concept of independent woman and accepts
the dominant knowledge

Panopticism
• We have stored self surveillance in our sub conscious and
constantly observing ourselves
• Foucault borrowed concept of Panopticon from benthem
model
• Panopticon is a long watch tower in the centre of prison
from where the prisoners actions were controlled
• No physical force being used rather the fear of observation
was internalized
• Foucault said, “Liberal societies doesn’t need chains to
force people to do something rather panopticon fulfills this
duty.”
• In modern world, best example is social media

Structuralism Vs Post Structuralism
• Structuralism • Post Structuralism
1. Meaning is stable,
constituted through
under lying structure or
system
2. There is single truth or
meaning
3. There is objective reality
4. They search for
universal truths and
rules that govern
meaning
1. Meaning is not stable,
dependent on interpreter
rather than structure
2. There are multiple truths
and meanings
3. The only reality is
constituted through
language in our minds
4. They are interested in
differences in truth rather
than universal truth

1. Meaning is not stable,
dependent on interpreter
rather than structure
2. There are multiple truths
and meanings
3. The only reality is
constituted through
language in our minds
4. They are interested in
differences in truth rather
than universal truth
• Focuses more on
speaker/reader operating
within structure
• Recognize the power of
under lying structures to
determine meanings
• Allows individuals to move
within the limits of meaning

Criticism
• Post structuralism was a controversy, many writers
questioned the legitimacy of this theory.
• Norman Holland argues that post structuslist theory was
flawed due to relying on saussarian model(parole/langue)
which was soon challenged and abandoned by linguistics.
• Derrida talked about deconstructing everything but after
deconstruction what's next, no direction been given.
• As they talked about multiple interpretations and if there
will be multiple meanings then who will decide that which
one is right and which one is wrong.
• Derrida s writings were very hard to understand so mostly
were tough.

Jean Baudrillard
• He was post structuralist and post modernist.
He discussed language theory of institution
and history as well , he borrowed the idea of
semiotic by Ferdinand de Saussure a linguistic

• Sign : is anything which is interpreted and have
meaning other than its own meaning we can not
study sign in isolation , but as system in reference
to other sign. Example apple fruit and apple i-
phone it has two sign red or green and juicy and
eatable object grew in trees.
• Example of blue movie. Sign can be interpreted in
many ways sign in isolation get no meaning.
• The reality of society is comprised of sign
popularized by media , technology, fashion
industry and capitalist system.

• Jean Baudrillard sees fashion as the
absorption of past sign the same way
machines absorb past labor, fashion is more
beautiful, than the beautiful and true than the
true as , a result they are fascinating.
• The media has a special place in the
implosion of meaning.

• According to a saying: getting information from the
internet is like taking a drink from fire hydrant for
baudrillard , this leads to the destruction of social life.
Media has an ideological affect knowledge of the event
as an aspect of life is prevented creating an
atmosphere of stupidity by mean tv shows from action
films , crime dreams , documentaries camera reality
shows like karton CID , Big Boss , desi kuryan etc
through media we can not reach the real event, but
endless interpretations. Every file of information and
every bit of knowledge required a conversation
medium can be transmitting without changing it to
control people.

• The such sing to construct reality, the reality is something that can
be copied situation in which a condition is created artificially to
express reality e.g of face book , if reality is what we smell, see ,
taste and touch than reality is electric signal of computer. We are
receiving that which is coming from society. We create artificial
reality for example media tell us how to think, what to think, what
to buy and purchase, what wear, what to eat, what to love and how
to love media create artificial condition and use certain reality
which does not exist in reality. Example beauty cream , hair
shampoos , conditioner, ” Duvet” a brand of blanket , wearing
branded suits khaadi , safina , Rolex nestle product etc .are not
biological need or god given institutions but these are constructed
needs. Previously fatty people were more desirable but media
changed it and now skinny people are consider as more beautiful.

ECSTASY
• A state of emotion so intense that one is carried
beyond rational thought and self-control.
• e.g Afia Saddique is presented as innocent
daughter of east by media and America is
responsible for all problems , crime and
terrorism. Major Aziz bhatti and all other men did
not receive the award of bravery by genuine
reason but due to favor. General yahya awarded
the Rashid Minhas the award of bravery during
that ceremony he was totally drunk and urinated
in his part.

• Video games provide us comfort and illusion of achievement that
relatives or friends fail to provide that satisfaction , the reality is
presented in more fascinated way it become more reality. Today
physical presence of people is not required need are not born but
created one .
• We assign four value to any object
1. functional value: what functions an object perform
2. symbolic value: what sign which depict particular relation with
other person. Finger ring relates to engagement or person is
committed.
3. exchange value: its also called economic value can be change
with other value one thing that can exchange with other thing
laptop is equal to may cell phones
4. sign value: it symbolize one status , taste , prestige and social class
there is no reality we are by product of obsession

JEAN FRANCOIS LYORD
• He was French scholar and was interested in meaning and sign his approach was
semiotic (science of sign ). sign is any thing which can be interpreted the meaning
other than sign, for example chair (he is hungry for chair) there is always
secondary meaning along with primary meaning we can not understand sign in
isolation rather than we can understand sign in systematic way . one sign is in
relationship with other sign , sign is social phenomena.
• SIGN OF MEANING
• Apple green red interpretation of sign is different from person to person. Sign
happen incidentally in our day to day conversation, he was of view that we are
losing thousands of meaning in our day to day to conversation meaning can be
achieved because is discussion no one know actual meaning this basic difference
between post structuralist and post modernist that structuralist say that meaning
is achieved through certain consciousness . reality of society is comprised of these
sign and these signs are popularized by media , fashion designer and capitalist. All
sign are gadget of knowledge and everyone requires a certain medium to convey
the information the information can not be transmitted without changing. He was
of view that reality can be anything which can be copied its artificial created,
reality is copied phenomena.

• SIMULATION
It’s a situation in that particular set of condition experience
something which exist in reality
• SIMULTRA
There is no reality in human mind its generated through artificial
situation by society but not the reality. Media tell us how to behave
think and even what to think. All thing are artificially created by
media. For example media though advertisement tells to use the
branded clothes like khadi gul ahmed etc they always attract you
towards these things through sign for example Duvet is most
famous brand of blanket. People give value to this brand because
the sign of standard is attached with it otherwise no special
functionality.

• ASTHETIC SIGN
It is knowledge, which signifies the value of brand to
you through the media, men is manipulated by other
factors because our self is by product of fashion
designer. Media or we given sign to objects we
artificially create the reality which is more real than the
reality and that is hyper reality and that hyper reality
always attract us just like we are living in a real world
but always attract toward jannat hoors and wine.
Fantasy and fear Disney land artificial image jannat
mentioned in bible people are more attract to it .

Post Structuralism (Derrida, Foucault, Jean)

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