Marxism and Deconstruction: A Critical Articulation - Softcover

Ryan, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1421432056 ISBN 13: 9781421432052

Publisher: Hopkins Open Publishing: Encore Edtion, 2019

Synopsis

Aside from Jacques Derrida's own references to the "possible articulation" between deconstruction and Marxism, the relationship between the two has remained largely unexplored. In Marxism and Deconstruction, Michael Ryan examines that multifaceted relationship but not through a mere comparison of two distinct and inviolable entities. Instead, he looks at both with an eye to identifying their common elements and reweaving them into a new theory of political practice. To accomplish his task, Ryan undertakes a detailed comparison of deconstruction and Marxism, relating deconstruction to the dialectical tradition in philosophy and demonstrating how deconstruction can be used in the critique of ideology. He is a forceful critic of both the politics of deconstruction and the metaphysical aspect of Marxism (as seen from a deconstructionist perspective). Besides offering the first book-length study of Derrida in this context, Ryan makes the first methodic attempt by an American scholar to apply deconstruction to domains beyond literature. He proposes a deconstructive Marxism, one lacking the metaphysical underpinnings of conservative "scientific" Marxist theory and employing deconstructive analysis both for Marxist political criticism and to further current anti-metaphysical developments within Marxism. Marxism and Deconstruction is an innovative and controversial contribution to the fields of literary criticism, philosophy, and political science.

About this title

About the Author:

Michael Ryan is a professor in the Department of Film and Media Arts at Temple University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hopkins Open Publishing: Encore Edtion
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1421432056
• ISBN 13: 9781421432052
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 254