Deconstructing the American Dream

"Jimat Sero" is one of Eka Kurniawan's short stories in the collection of short stories Cinta Tak Ada Mati in 2018. This paper will use deconstruction to examine the ideology of the text and describe the results of its dissemination in the text. This paper uses Jacques Derrida's deconstruction theory. The method used is content analysis with double reading. The results contain two main points; First, the ideology of the text from the identification of metaphysical hierarchies, binary oppositions, and undecidable elements in the text. Second, dissemination of the results of the deconstruction process. The result of the text's ideology is the curious days experienced by Aku after being given an amulet by Rohman. The results of the dissemination in the text are; 1) Aku reflects the generality of society towards mystical things, 2) Rohman's character is an abortion of village people who consider the city as the primary goal of success.

In the advertising industry, the media plays an important role in shaping public perceptions of beauty standards, including in Indonesia. Representations of women in advertisements are often depicted with ideal images centered on fair skin. Although advertisements now often feature representations of diversity, these standards are still made subtly in the media. This study discusses the contradictory messages contained in the Citra advertisement version “Pancarkan Ragam Cantik Kulit Indonesia” using Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic method. This research is a qualitative study using a constructivism paradigm approach with text analysis. The purpose of this study is to uncover the hidden meanings in advertisements using Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic method with Jacques Derrida's deconstruction theory. The results of the study show contradictory messages in the representation of diversity raised in this advertisement. Although Citra highlights the diversity of Indonesian skin color beauty, the presence of visuals such as placing light-skinned women as the main focus, the use of skin lightening ingredients such as bengkuang and niacinamide in Citra products as the main selling point, animations of skin color changes towards lighter, the appearance of characters who have dark skin characters with the label "Glowing Skin" still refers to the standard of beauty of light skin. This advertisement has not completely deconstructed the standard of beauty, but rather reproduces it in a new and more subtle form in selling its products.

The aim of the research paper is to scrutinize the intricacies of the human mind and cognitive function by comparing Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis and Jacques Derrida's deconstruction theory in reference with Usha Priyamvada’s short story, “Vaapsi” Translated as “The Homecoming.” by Hansda Shekhar. The paper deals with a comprehensive view of the psyche of the protagonist dealing with highly amped emotions and feelings of alienation, suppressed impulses, otherness and inner turmoil that he faced in his own home. In addition, the deconstruction theory explores the binaries of language and emotions faced by the protagonist in terms of inconsistent relations with his family, the multitudinous afflictions faced after his return and the arbitration that follows. The research highlights the synergised psychoanalytical and deconstructive perspective by illustrating the convoluted literary compositions. The analysis not only describes the textual comprehensive but also throws light on the narratives by Usha Priyamvada.

This article discusses the phenomenon of the widespread involvement of children in acts of terrorism in Indonesia, especially those that occurred in 2018. Such phenomenon indicates that mothers and fathers involve their children in acts of terrorism. The research is conducted with Berger and Luckman’s social construction approach. In addition, Derrida's deconstruction theory is also employed to support the analysis. The result, based on Berger and Luckman’s social construction theory, this phenomenon occurs because of radical constructivism. Furthermore, employing Derrida's deconstruction theory, this research finds that such terrorism has tendency of deconstruction process that rejects all forms of establishment, absoluteness, standard and rigid values in society. This proves the dynamics of human diversity in the real sense. However, this can also lead to intolerance.

This study aims to examine how traditional carpet art is transformed and re-signified within contemporary art practices within the framework of Jacques Derrida's theory of deconstruction. While traditional carpets historically functioned as carriers of cultural memory and established aesthetic norms, artists of the digital age generate new ontological discussions by disrupting these forms. In this study, utilizing qualitative research methods, specifically document review and visual analysis techniques, selected works of Faig Ahmed, Jan Kath, Rudolf Stingel, and Şakir Gökçebağ were analyzed through purposive sampling. The data were interpreted based on Panofsky’s iconographic analysis method and Derrida’s concept of différance. The findings indicated that these artists employed strategies of "motif deformation," "material contrasts," and "spatial intervention" to eradicate the functional value of the carpet. It was determined that Faig Ahmed liquefied tradition through digital "glitch" aesthetics, Jan Kath erased memory via industrial interventions, Rudolf Stingel transformed the carpet into a spatial surface, and Şakir Gökçebağ reconstructed the form through a ready-made approach. In conclusion, deconstruction in carpet art does not merely create a formal distortion but produces a pluralistic and critical field of meaning that transcends the binaries of East-West, craft-art, and digital-analog.

Reviewed by: Cosmopolitical Claims: Turkish-German Literatures from Nadolny to Pamuk Mine Eren (bio) Cosmopolitical Claims: Turkish-German Literatures from Nadolny to Pamuk. By B. Venkat Mani. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2007. 272 pp. Cloth $39.95. B. Venkat Mani's Cosmopolitical Claims: Turkish-German Literatures from Nadolny to Pamuk covers ground familiar to anyone interested in multiculturalism and minority and transnational studies. Mani's book, with its focus on recent debates on texts by Turkish-German authors, is both a critique and celebration of the discussions surrounding this literature. Mani, an assistant professor in the Department of German at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, takes us on a stimulating tour through the latest research on cultural hybridity, subalternity, and diasporic memory. His cosmopolitical analysis is a reaction to the numerous scholarly debates that followed the publication of Edward Said's Orientalism (1978) and Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children (1991). What makes the book important, and in many ways, even remarkable, is the breadth of the author's analysis of contemporary theory, through which he seeks to familiarize his reader with key terms and the methodological differences within post-colonial and German studies. To this end, Mani sketches the perspectives of thinkers from Jacques Derrida, Homi Bhabha, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Dipesh Chakrabarty, Rey Chow, Leslie Adelson, Azade Seyhan, to Deniz Göktürk and many others to shed light on the question of cultural interaction. One differentiating feature of Mani's study is its goal "to think through difference without indulging in the triumphant vocabularies of multicultural inclusions or the defeatist critiques of monocultural exclusions" (7). [End Page 676] Mani organizes his book around four chapters. He invokes concepts of home, belonging, and cultural citizenship to evaluate the literary claims in four novels, arguing that these concepts have different aesthetic and ideological valences for different authors. According to Mani, modes of engagement with national, cultural, and ethnic difference in metropolitan cities such as Berlin and Istanbul vary in the writings of Sten Nadolny, Emine Sevgi Özdamar, Feridun Zaimoglu, and Orhan Pamuk. While Nadolny and Pamuk's narratives tackle the subject of a homogenous and ethnocentric idea existent in their national culture, Özdamar and Zaimoglu address the question of migrant experience and in doing so "register their thinking and feeling through and beyond the German nation" (5). What connects these narratives, however, is that they "defy easy categorization into a national, an ethnic, a cultural, or even a transcultural literature." (6) The first chapter explores the question of subalternity. Mani's "interests lie in the claims" to trespass "the legitimacy and validity of self-representation" (65). His reading of Nadolny's Selim oder die Gabe der Rede (1990) [Selim; or, The Gift of Speech] focuses on the struggle between Alexander (the narrator and representer) and Selim (the subject of the narration and the represented). In questioning the relationship between them, Mani lays bare the exchange mechanisms between the majority self (Alexander) and the marginal other (Selim). Taking theories by Spivak, Derrida, and Bhabha into consideration, Mani claims that Selim represents the subject of Alexander's narration and functions "as a substructure of an emerging recognition of the two as integral parts of the same polity" (38). In introducing the term narraphasia into the discussion, Mani suggests that the narrator infuses modes of self-interrogation into the narrative in order to make reference to his inability to write and represent the other. Invoking Spivak's expression "the slouching of history," Mani reshapes the discussion regarding "the mechanics of institutions and inscriptions that force a particular kind of performance in securing the voice of the minorities" (89). In examining Seltsame Sterne starren zur Erde (2003) [Strange Stars Stare Toward the Earth] by Emine Sevgi Özdamar, Mani illustrates how self-representation and political claims function in this novel. Specifically, Özdamar's reference to a brief period of German Democratic Republic's cultural history becomes the focal point for Mani's analysis. Mani favors the idea that the narrator's diasporic memory intervenes in the host nation's past, revealing subaltern pasts through a combination of [End Page 677] recuperation and recherché. Referencing Andreas Huyssen's...

(1972). Jacques Derrida's Theory of Writing and the Concept of Trace. Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 197-200.

The conflict that occurred between Indonesia and Timor-Leste (Timor Timur) after the Popular Consultation was a conflict of power or a power struggle. This power struggle resulted in gross human rights violations. To resolve this conflict, in 2005 the Indonesian Timor-Leste Truth and Friendship Commission (KKP) was formed. Researchers assume that language can be used in conflict resolution. So the aims of this study are (1) to reveal the meaning of the text in Per Memoriam Ad Spem in constructing human rights violations in Timor-Leste in 1999, before and after the Popular Consultation. (2) Explaining the power of language in the construction of reports on human rights violations and conflict resolution in Per Memoriam Ad Spem, so that an agreement is reached that should not be forgiven to be forgiven. Van Dijk's discourse theory, Derrida's theory of deconstruction, and Bourdieu's theory of language & power, all three are related to language and power. These three theories are used as a basis for dissecting the phenomenon of this research. This study uses a critical constructionism paradigm, a type of qualitative research, and an interpretive approach. The findings of this study are that the strength of the Indonesian language as the primary working language has a very extraordinary impact. Textually, in the macro, meso, and micro dimensions, through language, political communication has been constructed which leads to the establishment of reconciliation between parties in power, which should deconstruct human rights violations. The parties with their power discourse can melt down, so that gross violations of human rights, which should not be forgiven, become forgiven. This is in line with Derrida's idea of true forgiveness or unconditional forgiveness, namely forgiving the unforgivable

Edward Said, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, and Homi Bhabha have demonstrated to us the importance of reading differently. They have revealed to us the ideological, political, and economic matrix within which the cultural texts of a specific period take shape. Reading could never be considered as a straightforward activity after Said published his Orientalism.2, 1994). Said has taught us that the text, the context of its production, the processes of its circulation, and the contexts within which it is read, are all crucial to its meanings. Hence, we can say that the colonized played an important role in Europe’s literary imaginations. To put it simply, Edward Said made the process of reading European literature a discomforting activity by reminding us that fantasies about the Oriental subject sustained and justified political aggression in colonized spaces.3 And yet, to say that postcolonial theory only brought in the perspective of the Third World reader would be too simplistic an explanation that reduces this form of questioning to some kind of identitarian politics, or a mere representation of the voices of the silenced. The other postcolonial critic, Homi Bhabha, is interested in the interstitial spaces, or the “in-between” hybrid identities that make up minorities.4 He is right in pointing out that those who occupy the margins of a society, those who are in the periphery of the Empire, are not necessarily natural allies of one another.

Having been always associated with the French theoretician Jacques Derrida, the term ‘Deconstruction’ happened to become the greatest revolutionary theory proposed in the twentieth century. As the term points to, deconstruction theory tends to deny any sort of fixed stable system of predicted rules and meanings in art. Rather, it offers an existing infinity and flexibility in meaning as an inborn entity in the discussion of art interpretation. Deconstruction theory, further concentrates itself on the active role, an audience’s ideologies and individuality operate during the process of his/her interpretation of a piece of art, while insisting on cultural parameters. The current article aims to reveal how deconstruction can help critics and individuals to reach a worldwide multidimensional understanding and appreciation of any genre of art by applying its major applications of binary oppositions and ideological privileged on two selected works of the famous twentieth century painter, Pablo Picasso. Hence, shedding a new light of understanding on Picasso’s works by seeking to curve out his ideological privileges and proposing new possible relationships between the concepts and the meanings in his paintings. In this regard it must be noted that deconstruction focuses on two major points in its applications; the first one deals with the uncertainty of an artistic work as a mean to reveal the self-contradictory and multiplicity of the thematic meanings proposed by both the artist and the audience, and the second point focuses on the underlying ideological dimensions within the artifact. Finally, it is believed that artist’s ideological frameworks can be decoded by applying deconstruction theories on his/her artifacts. Keywords: Jacques Derrida, Deconstruction, Twentieth Century, Art, Binary opposition, Ideological privileges, Pablo Picasso

This study aims to deconstructed Wikipédia Jawa as a source of reference for Javanese article using Derrida's deconstruction theory. Wikipédia Jawa is one of the Wikipedia projects along with local communities in the world to re-popularize local languages that are empowered for free through internet. This research begins by reading the Wikipédia Jawa website through text which was profided on the page then delays the meaning by searching for the deeper meaning in the website through context and co-text. The hypothesis of this study is Wikipédia Jawa loses its simpleness and easy-to-understand values that cling to ‘Wikipedia’ itself. Wikipédia Jawa as a source of reference for online information in Javanese uses high level of Javanese, Bahasa Jawa Krama, which makes it more difficult for general readers to understand the articles. Furthermore, Wikipédia Jawa only can be consumed by small community which provokes exclusivity of society members.

This research is descriptive qualitative research with the object of research manga entitled "Shishi mo Kobamazu" (2014) by Kiriyu Kiyoi. This manga is a boy's same-sex love genre that generally has a formula for the roles of Seme and Uke. The role of seme will be considered to have all the masculine traits and the role of uke to have all the feminine traits. In the Shishi mo Kobamazu manga, the roles of Seme and Uke are given a different role concept from manga boy's love in general resulting in a deconstruction of the role concepts of Seme and Uke. The aim of this research is to describe the deconstruction that occurs and its depiction in literary works so that it can be seen that the construction of gender roles in same-sex love relationships does not have a patent provision and can change according to conditions and times. The method used is a literature study. The theory used in this research is Derrida's deconstruction theory and Butler's performativity. Both theories are used to analyze the form of deconstruction in the roles of seme and uke and to understand the concept of gender roles in same-sex relationships. The results show that the character in this manga can display and form a new identity in their seme and uke roles through the performativity of gender roles in same-sex relationships. The new identity in the form of Seme and Uke is not fixed on one gender trait. Seme can be described as having a petite body and characters like women and uke can be described as having a strong and masculine physique. The roles of Seme and Uke can change according to the identity shown by each character in the manga.

Purpose. This study investigates the deconstruction of the librarian’s role in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at university libraries, specifically at Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP), through Jacques Derrida’s social theory. Librarians are expected to act as key connectors between users and credible information. With the increasing presence of AI in libraries, their role becomes even more critical in enhancing the quality and accessibility of information services. Methodology. This research employs a qualitative approach using the literature study method, with data collection conducted through reference sources, reading, note-taking, and processing research materials Results and discussion. At the UNP Library, the librarian’s role is shifting due to digitalization and AI development. Although facilities like Digilib UNP and SIDARING have been introduced, they are not yet fully optimized. The opening of the new Information and Library Center building provides opportunities for innovation, but a deconstruction of traditional librarian roles is needed. Librarians should not be limited to administrative tasks but encouraged to implement AI-based services such as virtual library tours, chatbots, and speech-to-text systems. Domestic and international case studies confirm that AI integration enhances user engagement and service delivery, requiring librarians to be adaptive, creative, and technologically competent. Conclusions. Applying Derrida’s deconstruction theory, the librarian’s role at UNP must be redefined to meet digital-era demands. Main challenges include resistance to change and lack of technical skills. With a transformative approach, librarians can collaborate and innovate using AI, making library services more inclusive, dynamic, and relevant for modern academic needs.

Morality, as part of cultural dynamics, constantly evolves in response to social and ideological changes. In the realm of popular culture, superheroes have long served as manifestations of moral values. However, the series The Boys (2019) presents a deconstruction of the superhero representation that has traditionally symbolized the moral compass. Through the character of Homelander, the series explores the ambiguity of morality and the corruption caused by absolute power, contrasting with the ideal image of Superman. This study employs qualitative methods with a narrative and visual analysis approach, framed by Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction theory, to examine how morality is represented and deconstructed in The Boys. Homelander not only embodies a decayed sense of morality but also represents a critique of capitalism, the manipulation of public image, and the corruption of moral authority. His representation underscores that morality in popular culture is not static but a social construct that evolves with the times. Ultimately, Homelander in The Boys becomes both a reflection and a challenge to modern institutions, capitalism, and society’s belief in untouchable authority figures. Thus, the series demonstrates that superhero narratives offer not only entertainment but also a space for reflecting on changes and challenges to morality in contemporary society.

This study analyzed and proved the unpredictability of language and the lack of unified meaning in the novel written by John Green, The Fault in Our Stars, which was analyzed using Jacques Derrida’s Deconstruction Theory. This employed qualitative research design. Thirty adopted guide questions were used in the literary analysis. Deconstruction was divided into first and second readings. The initial reading highlighted elements, binary oppositions, and hierarchy of terms present in the novel. The hierarchical oppositions include: life/death, old/young, health/sickness, masculine/feminine, optimism/pessimism, active/passive, and fiction/reality. In this stage, the text appeared to be a unified whole. However, the unprivileged terms became equal to their respective opposites in the second reading. This destroyed the notion of hierarchy altogether. The reversal of the oppositions dismantled the intended meanings with the observed irreconcilable details. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that Deconstruction has been useful in examining the unavoidable contradictions and irresolvable ambiguities present in the text. Thus, absolute interpretation is impossible. Therefore, it is recommended that teachers should be careful in giving students fixed interpretations. Teachers should be able to discuss comprehensively the grammatical, functional, literal, and figurative meanings of a literary work and the different characteristics of language including its flaws, inconsistencies, and ambiguities.