Differance

Definition

Differance is a philosophical concept introduced by Jacques Derrida that refers to the process by which meaning is created through the interplay of differences within language and text. It emphasizes that meaning is never fully present or fixed, but rather always deferred through relationships with other meanings, highlighting the instability of language and interpretation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Differance suggests that meaning is not inherent in words themselves but is produced through their relationships with other words.
2. The concept highlights how language functions through a system of differences, where each term gains meaning in contrast to others.
3. In performance and theater, differance can be applied to understand how interpretation changes over time and context, leading to multiple readings of a text.
4. Derrida argued that since meaning is always deferred, complete understanding or closure in interpretation is impossible.
5. Differance challenges traditional notions of authorship and authority, as it opens up texts to a variety of interpretations beyond the author's intent.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of differance challenge traditional views of meaning in text and performance?
  • Differance challenges traditional views by asserting that meaning is not fixed or inherent in a text but arises from the interplay of differences among words and symbols. This perspective suggests that every interpretation is influenced by context and relationships with other meanings, making it impossible to arrive at a single, definitive understanding. In performance, this means that each staging or reading can yield new interpretations, further complicating the relationship between text and audience.
• Discuss the implications of differance for the practice of deconstruction in analyzing texts and performances.
  • The implications of differance for deconstruction lie in its emphasis on the instability of meaning. Deconstruction reveals how texts are layered with multiple interpretations and contradictions that arise from differance. This approach invites audiences to question established meanings and assumptions within both literary texts and theatrical performances, allowing for a richer engagement with the material as meanings unfold rather than being predetermined.
• Evaluate how differance can influence audience perception and interpretation during a live performance.
  • Differance significantly influences audience perception during a live performance by allowing for a fluidity of interpretation based on individual experiences and reactions. As performers enact a script, the meanings conveyed may shift dynamically through nuances in delivery, staging choices, or audience engagement. This constant deferral of meaning means that each performance creates a unique experience for viewers, who may take away different insights based on their interactions with the evolving layers of meaning presented on stage.

Related terms

Deconstruction: A critical approach that seeks to reveal the assumptions and contradictions in a text, showing how meaning is constructed and how it can be disrupted.

Signifier: The physical form of a word or symbol in language, which, according to Derrida, is always linked to multiple meanings and interpretations.

Trace: A term used by Derrida to indicate the remnants of meanings and references left behind when a word is used, emphasizing the absence of definitive meaning.