Structuralism by definition refers to that way in
which one analyzes culture by looking at structures or how a society is
organized. For example a teacher is viewed very differently outside of the
classroom as compared to inside the classroom because of the role in which they
play at that given time. Post-Modernism on the other hand is less organized and
structured and is more along the lines of doing whatever one chooses to do;
allowing for much more freedom, color, and imagination. An example of Post
Modernism in today’s culture would be punk rock music because it is a cluster
of genres that have formed its identity as punk rock. Or another example could
be the way that we dress today in comparison to the trends and fads of the
early 1900’s.
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| Jaques Derrida |
Jaques Derrida illustrates in his Structure, Sign, and Play, various
examples of this as well as his interpretation on the use of signs and there
meaning. First, before moving further it is important to note that Derrida is
very important and significant for his creation of the word “deconstruct” which
historically is interpreted as “there is nothing outside of the text”. In other
words Derrida believes that deconstruction is an effort to understand a text
through its relationship to various contexts. Derrida is famously noted as
being a philosopher that applies much of what he writes about to the way he
writes, which means that majority of what he talks about is much more than what
is perceived on the surface. He advises that we as readers search for meaning
not only through declarative and prescriptive passages of text, but also in
margins as well as gaps or basically “reading between the lines”.
He starts in his writing by insinuating at an event
also referred to in his writing as a “rupture”, which is what he noted brought
about change in regards to the concept of structure. He then goes on to say
that “rupture” marks the transition from structuralism which noted at the beginning
is described as the way we analyze society, to post modernism which is
described as this freedom and vivid use of imagination and creativity. In
regards to structure he portrays that the entire history of the concept of
structure functions as “one system”, “one structure”, which is parallel to that
of metaphysics. What these all have in common is the idea that they visualize
structure as being something that molds around a center.
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| Post-Modernism (example) |
But since the center (whether it be God, man,
happiness, or our conscience) cannot be effected by the structure surrounding
it, rather it has been residing outside of the system which means it does not
actually mold around the center. To understand this idea better he goes more
into depth by talking about the use of signs and says that the face that signs
define themselves by their relationships to other signs implies that there
cannot be “a center”; neither within or without the structure or system, since
the transcendental signifier or in other words the ultimate sign could not be demarcated
without allusion to another sign.
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| Example Of How Signs Differenciate Based Upon Audience |
When thinking of examples of how Derrida’s writing
and explanation of sign and how sign could not be interpreted without the
presence of another sign I thought immediately of gang signs in comparison to
sign language. Although this may seem far-fetched, growing up in a high gang
populated region of inner city Los Angeles, the use of gang signs and
communication amongst gang members is vital for one’s survival. Although the
use of hand signals to relay messages goes back as far as slavery in African American
culture, today it plays a vital role in protecting gangs turf and keeping a
sense of order within the neighborhood. Now at this point I’m sure you are
wondering well how does gang signs relate to Derrida but don’t worry I’m getting
there now.
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| Basic Gang Signs |
Gang symbols and signs are very basic hand gestures
which although may be simple to impersonate, have a great deal of meaning and
symbolism from one gang member to another. Though one gesture may not seem to
mean much due to its simplicity, it has much more meaning to those who
understand the lingo or slang. These gestures relay messages about rival gangs,
police activity, drug dealing, war, or even a basic gesture of acknowledging a
friend such as saying “what’s up”. Now comparing it to sign language, it is
safe to say that many of the symbols and gestures that gang signs have now
began to use have come directly from sign language. Even though sign language
is much more complex than gang signs in a since that sign language spells out
entire words and sentences, gang symbols act somewhat as abbreviations for sign
language with very different meanings.
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| Sign Language Alphabet |
Derrida would approach this idea of use of sign by
saying first on behalf of his deconstruction creation that as stated before
deconstruction acts as an effort to understand or comprehend the use of sign
based upon its relationship to other contexts. He would then go on to talk
about how there is not center to this use of sign because the use of signs as
communication originated long before gangs were even created. Along with this
idea, the idea that the same sign could have two very different meanings in
regards to gang signs and sign language act as an illustration that there
cannot be a center.
