Dissemination (Paperback)

by Jacques Derrida (Author), Barbara Johnson (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"The English version of Dissemination [is] an able translation by Barbara Johnson . . . . Derrida's central contention is that language is haunted by dispersal, absence, loss, the risk of unmeaning, a risk which is starkly embodied in all writing. The distinction between philosophy and literature therefore becomes of secondary importance. Philosophy vainly attempts to control the irrecoverable dissemination of its own meaning, it strives—against the grain of language—to offer a sober revelation of truth. Literature—on the other hand—flaunts its own meretriciousness, abandons itself to the Dionysiac play of language. In Dissemination—more than any previous work—Derrida joins in the revelry, weaving a complex pattern of puns, verbal echoes and allusions, intended to 'deconstruct' both the pretension of criticism to tell the truth about literature, and the pretension of philosophy to the literature of truth."—Peter Dews, New Statesman

Language Notes
Text: English, French (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (February 15, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226143341
• ISBN-13: 978-0226143347
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #261,469 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful translation of a masterwork, April 26, 2000

By	david dault (Atlanta, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

Where Derrida is concerned, the translator must be of equal worth to the superlative standards of the text. One of the reasons the man is considerd so hard to read is that he exploits ambiguity and wordplay in (his native) language to its fullest extent. For Barbara Johnson, the complexity of the french is not an obstacle, but allows her to search out parallel plays in english that mimic those in the original at the same time that they add their own nuances to this amazingly rich work. Understanding Derrida is important, but equally important is understanding what he is *not* - particularly when it comes to his philosophical method. This work helps to show clearly what a high regard he holds for the texts he "re-reads", and his particular use of the methods of deconstruction. For those new to Derrida, I recommend reading this work in conjunction with _Derrida for Beginners_ by Jim Powell, published by Writers and Readers press in New York. Powell's book helps you keep your bearings amongst the many twists and turns of _Dissemintation_.

12 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly challenging, March 11, 1999

By A Customer

If you can't understand Derrida very well, this is the book to read. Derrida is a consummate master of weaving word play and deft theory in his analysis of Mallarme, Plato and femininity. The book should especially be read by feminists, because his understanding of the feminine is the best I have seen from any male theorist in a long time. This book also figured prominently in my master's thesis that I wrote several years ago. So get this book!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Important book, February 13, 2008

By	clyntonr (Guatemala, Guatemala) - See all my reviews

As important as Of Gramatology, is this book in the thought of Derrida. If you want to get into Derrida's World you should read this book.