For a single work, I think "Signature Event Context," which can be found in Limited, Inc, among other places, would be an excellent place to start. So is "Stucture, Sign, and Play" which can be found here. I am also a fan of Negotiations, his last "interview book." It's not as rigorous as his readings, but it's a fantastic look at how deconstruction is always already political. Last, if you're familiar with the background issues (Heidegger and the Nazi question), Of Spirit is probably the finest piece of criticism I have ever encountered.
For a reader, I think the one Peggy Kamuf put together works pretty well. It's not fantastic, and it ignores his more recent and more overtly political work, but it offers a nice introduction into how his mind worked.
If you want something online, and that deals with an issue near and dear to most of the blogging community - new media - this review of Echographies of Television by Richard Beardsworth is quite well done.
I can't speak for Ogged, but I can say what I'd recommend.
My favorite is Signature Event Context (excerpt), found in Margins of Philosophy (which also contains the canonical essay, "Differance"). Given Time is a good one if you have some acquaintance with structuralism and with Marcel Mauss's The Gift. Monolingualism of the Other weaves together autobiographical and philosophical material. The essay collection Negotiations brings together a lot of political interventions with essays that treat themes that appear in his lengthier books.
Jonathan Culler's book On Deconstruction is really helpful for understanding the early stuff.
I haven't even read all the works recommended here, but if I had to pick from what I have read of Derrida, I'd say Margins of Philosophy is very good place to start. (Out of print?! Really?) Alibris has it, and the Seminary Coop must as well.
The coop has it, or 57th st. books has it. But, they don't list the price! I suspect it's one of those "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" things, as in the antiquarian books ads in the NYT Book Review. Or rather I don't think that, but that's what it suggests.
Derrida was an inspiring and incredible writer/theorist/philosopher/etc. He's well worth reading although for those without a solid philosophy ackground, I'd suggest Postcards first, or maybe On The Name.
Is there any work or reader or collection that you would recommend (for anything in particular)?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 10- 9-04 11:58 PM
For a single work, I think "Signature Event Context," which can be found in Limited, Inc, among other places, would be an excellent place to start. So is "Stucture, Sign, and Play" which can be found here. I am also a fan of Negotiations, his last "interview book." It's not as rigorous as his readings, but it's a fantastic look at how deconstruction is always already political. Last, if you're familiar with the background issues (Heidegger and the Nazi question), Of Spirit is probably the finest piece of criticism I have ever encountered.
For a reader, I think the one Peggy Kamuf put together works pretty well. It's not fantastic, and it ignores his more recent and more overtly political work, but it offers a nice introduction into how his mind worked.
If you want something online, and that deals with an issue near and dear to most of the blogging community - new media - this review of Echographies of Television by Richard Beardsworth is quite well done.
Posted by kenrufo | Link to this comment | 10-10-04 8:52 AM
I can't speak for Ogged, but I can say what I'd recommend.
My favorite is Signature Event Context (excerpt), found in Margins of Philosophy (which also contains the canonical essay, "Differance"). Given Time is a good one if you have some acquaintance with structuralism and with Marcel Mauss's The Gift. Monolingualism of the Other weaves together autobiographical and philosophical material. The essay collection Negotiations brings together a lot of political interventions with essays that treat themes that appear in his lengthier books.
Jonathan Culler's book On Deconstruction is really helpful for understanding the early stuff.
Posted by Adam Kotsko | Link to this comment | 10-10-04 8:56 AM
I haven't even read all the works recommended here, but if I had to pick from what I have read of Derrida, I'd say Margins of Philosophy is very good place to start. (Out of print?! Really?) Alibris has it, and the Seminary Coop must as well.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 10-10-04 12:43 PM
There's no way it's out of print. The Barnes and Noble in Bourbonnais also has it if the Coop doesn't.
Posted by Adam Kotsko | Link to this comment | 10-10-04 1:08 PM
The coop has it, or 57th st. books has it. But, they don't list the price! I suspect it's one of those "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" things, as in the antiquarian books ads in the NYT Book Review. Or rather I don't think that, but that's what it suggests.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 10-10-04 1:34 PM
Derrida was an inspiring and incredible writer/theorist/philosopher/etc. He's well worth reading although for those without a solid philosophy ackground, I'd suggest Postcards first, or maybe On The Name.
I cried when I learned he passed on.
~Laureth
Posted by Laureth | Link to this comment | 02-10-05 10:45 AM