At
the time of his death in 2004, Jacques Derrida
was one of the most influential figures in
contemporary philosophy. Yet Derrida has undermined
the accepted rules of philosophy, rejected
its methods and concepts, disrupted its boundaries
and “contaminated” philosophy with
other kinds of writing. Derrida’s approach
is an initially puzzling array of oblique,
sliding and yet rigorous tactics for destabilising
texts, meanings and identities. “Deconstruction”,
as these strategies have been called, has
been reviled as a politically pernicious nihilism
and celebrated as a liberatory politics of
choice and difference.
Introducing
Derrida describes the key strategies of Derrida’s
writing, explains their controversial effects
in philosophy, and shows how Derrida has put
them to work in literature, art, architecture
and politics. Written and illustrated with
wit and clarity by Jeff Collins and Bill Mayblin,
the book offers a starting point for an intellectual
adventure that threatens to disturb some of
the most comfortable habits of contemporary
thought.
***
Jeff
Collins studied Art History at the University
of Leeds and is currently lecturer in Art
History at the University of Plymouth.
Bill
Mayblin trained as a graphic designer at the
Royal College of Art in London, and is now
a senior partner in the London design practice
the Information Design Workshop.
