Dekonstruksie en metafoor : ’n krities-filosofiese herwaardering

Abstract

A philosophical inquiry is conducted regarding the view of Jacques Derrida (1930 – 2004) on deconstruction with emphasis on the argument that deconstruction is always already present in some texts as far as metaphors are concerned. The various underlying concepts which form part of deconstruction are investigated – concepts like fragmentation, advanced fragmentation, dissemination and discontinuity. A case study follows in which emphasis is placed on the way in which deconstruction as textual process or dynamic functions in two short short stories of Breyten Breytenbach titled Kersverhaal and Kersverhaal 2 specifically with regard to metaphors. The finding made in this study is that metaphors like “blindness”, “the frame” and “consciousness of the unconscious” are functioning parts of deconstruction. It was subsequently found that deconstruction itself possibly functions metaphorically as an “decentric circle”. Through the ages metaphors have been researched by various philosophers and therefore a short review is given on the views of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Nietzsche and Ricoeur. It was concluded that the views of these five thinkers are not totally suitable for a philosophical inquiry into metaphors specifically with regard to Breytenbach. However, Derrida’s approach has been found to be quite suitable for an inquiry into Breytenbach’s two short short stories, since both Derrida’s and Breytenbach’s approaches suggest strong elements of deconstruction. Both Derrida and Breytenbach place emphasis on spontaneous expression in literary-aesthetical texts, with specific regard to the role that the human unconscious plays. They both also have a critical view of traditions and therefore this study also focuses on the role that colours traditionally played, compared to the role colours like white and black play in Breytenbach’s Kersverhaal and Kersverhaal 2 – especially as a result of ethnocentrism in the historic, social and political background of South Africa. The prominent metaphors “blindness”, “the frame” and “consciousness of the unconscious”, which form part of the functioning of deconstruction, function analogically in the two texts of Breytenbach; especially concerning the way in which fragmentation, advanced fragmentation, dissemination and discontinuity function within these texts. Accordingly it is also illustrated in which way reconstruction plays a role as a parallel process of deconstruction in the two texts. In spite of the fact that deconstruction is an advantageous textual process or dynamic, there are certain flaws and/or limitations. Consequently attention is also paid to the presence of logocentric constructs like historicism, irrationalism and postmodernism / poststructuralism within the functioning of deconstruction. In the end the critical-philosophical reassessment of deconstruction and metaphors is successful, regardless of certain flaws and/or limitations of deconstruction.