Deconstruction

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  deconstruction \de`con*struc"tion\
     (d[-e]`k[u^]n*str[u^]k"sh[u^]n), n.
     A philosophical theory of criticism (usually of literature or
     film) that seeks to expose deep-seated contradictions in a
     work by delving below its surface meaning. This method
     questions the ability of language to represent a fixed


     reality, and proposes that a text has no stable meaning
     because words only refer to other words, that metaphysical or
     ethnocentric assumptions about the meaning of words must be
     questioned, and words may be redefined in new contexts and
     new, equally valid and even contradictory meanings may be
     found. Such new interpretations may be based on the
     philosophical, political, or social implications of the words
     of a text, rather than solely on attempts to determine the
     author's intentions. --RHUD --MW10
  
     Syn: deconstructionism.
          [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
  
     2. the process of criticising or interpreting a text by the
        method of {deconstruction[1]}.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  deconstruction
       n : a philosophical theory of criticism (usually of literature
           or film) that seeks to expose deep-seated contradictions
           in a work by delving below its surface meaning [syn: {deconstructionism}]