Classmate Post’s Response

Deconstructionism: An Alternative Analysis of Texts

Deconstructionism, as described in Atkins in 2015, is a literary analysis or criticism method which challenges our traditional, comfy assumption of certainty, truth and identity. The deconstructionist theory tends to say that statements can often mean differently than we normally interpret. It attempts to illustrate how the written or said declaration distorts its meaning. The theory looks at the exact statements and the troughs between the bits, that is to say, and what is left unanswered. In my opinion, the post has tried to give out the general overview of deconstructionist theory; however, the actual definition of the theory seems missing or unclear. The author goes directly on what the theory does, instead of giving the exact definition of the term, to create a solid understanding of the reader who is clueless about the topic.

A Closer Look at Deconstruction

I felt like there was a better and simpler way of explaining deconstruction. The post should have brought about an image to the reader that deconstruction entails closer reading of texts to demonstrate that any statement said or written has a different meaning. In the post, the author has explained the theory as a dismantling method of the text structure by tearing the statement apart and reconstructing it again to get the author’s meaning. However, as asserted by Atkins, 2015, deconstruction should show that the text has already dismantled itself; therefore, the reader has only read it closely, involved some critical thinking, to identify another hidden meaning that mediocre minds could not have perceived.

Engaging Examples

Nevertheless, my favorite part of the author’s post is in the examples. In a cartoon book, he gets the text of “Am I Hanging the Paint on the Wall,” and asked whether “Is the Wall Hanging Itself on the Painting.” The author seems to have questioned the apparent, by critical analysis of the text from the comfortable assumptions or general meaning. The example is perfect to the extent that the reader cannot forget the general idea of deconstructionist theory. Finally, the author brings the concept of perception, where he states that deconstructionist entails much on how we perceive. With an example of half empty or full water glass, the notion of pessimists and optimists comes in, which is significant to the topic.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is clear that the author understands the deconstructionist theory, only that his introduction of the subject was weak.

Reference

Atkins, G. D. (2015). Reading Deconstruction/Deconstructive Reading. University Press of Kentucky.