ginger griffin, 4/14

Today's class was very interesting to say the least. It still has me second guessing what it is I am or was trying to say. Derrida uses his words in a way that will make any person scratch their head in confusion. His terms, which w learned about in class today, helped me to realize that I really have no idea what is being said, or do I? Logocentrism is one term I did understand, especially the way Dr. Casey explained it today, "As human beings, we are LOCKED into words or names." We simply can not look at something without thinking of another thing it is similar to or thinking about what that object is not, like DeSaussure. Also, Dr. Casey holds the power over the entire class because he is the only one who knows all of the alias' for our blogs, therefore he has the power to give that information out, or to keep it to himself. He knows who writes what and when, but the entire class has no idea who everybody else is. We can not live without these signs of words or names because for our entire existence we have been wrapped around these meanings of words and meanings of meanings, and so on and so forth.


I thought the "dog" example in class was really helpful to understand the term "differance". It also helped me to realize all of the meanings behind one word. When you think of dog you think of a four legged animal living in a house, but we connected to weed and a non herbivour. If I was to try this all day I think I would simply go crazy, but I do find it very interesting to look up one word and then find the meanings of all those words combined. You would be able to write for days, actually I don't think the writing would ever stop because the words would never end.


I think it is safe to say that I was not the only confused about Derrida but after class I had a little bit of a better understanding of the words we use and the words we choose not to use. Derrida was a very confusing man, and I hate to end it on a negative note but I would be happy to never have to study him again. The only thing is, is now I will never be able to escape him, or words, or names, or meanings.