CL 10.24

This weeks class brought up quite a few interesting points for me, most of them about Lost. But I am not going to bother everyone with my newly discovered theories about a crazy island and the Others. I'll do my best to focus on Derrida and what he has to say about Differance.

I found the concept of logocentrism extremely thought provoking. The concept that 'nothing exists outside language' has had me thinking for the last few days. Everything in our lives revolves around language; it is our qualifier for everything in life. It is how we attach emotions, choices, and concepts to everything, EVERYTHING, in our world. When language is confused, which happens quite frequently, there are many problems. This brings me to Derrida's point about concept:

"Every concept is necessarily and essentially inscribed in a chain or a system, within which it refers to another to other concepts, by the systematic play of differences" (pg 127).

This idea is clearly illustrated in the television show "Arrested Development." There is an episode where two of the Bluth brothers, Michael and Gob, are both in love with a Spanish soap opera star. Gob hears her talking to her relative on the phone about being in love with "Harmano," and he thinks it is another man. While it is in fact another man, what neither Gob nor Michael realize is that "Harmono" is spanish means "brother," and the woman is talking about Michael. The two Bluth brothers go on a hunt to find out who she is cheating on Gob with, and they both end up losing her affection in the end.

While this example is a bit trivial, I believe it to be a perfect example of Derrida's concepts about language. This simple confusion evokes and entire chain of events that all have to do with ascribing words to a "chain or a system." These words create conflict over a simple misunderstanding. It makes for brilliant comedy and a great example of logocentrism.