This book surveys the main schools and theorists of deconstruction, establishing their philosophical roots and tracing their intellectual development. It analyses their contribution to the understanding of literature and ideology, comparing their critical value and exploring the critical reaction to deconstruction and its limitations. The text is designed for students who wish to understand how and why deconstruction has become the dominant tool of the humanities.
Author Biography
Peter V. Zima is Professor of General and Comparative Literature and Director of the Institute of General and Comparative Literature at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria.
Reviews
"Deconstruction and Critical Theory marks a new stage in the reception history of Dernda's work and in the wider philosophical debate around deconstruction. Zima's study makes a strikingly original contribution to our better understanding of deconstruction and its various philosophic sources." Christopher Norris, University of Wales at Cardiff