One of the more enjoyable aspects of studying Derrida this last semester was learning about an act called “writing under erasure” (Fr. sous rature). It is a method Derrida borrowed from Heidegger. If a word is necessary for communication yet one wants to show that it is not sufficient for conveying the intended meaning one can use sous rature.
Sous rature as used by Derrida has the impact of denouncing the metaphysics or “presence” that is supposed to exist behind a word in order. Let me provide as example. If I write “God is love” there is a lot of baggage behind the word “God” and “love” (heck, even “is”). I cannot think of a better word that “God” to describe my idea of a higher deity, supreme being, and so forth. Therefore, I use the word “God”, but I denounce its baggage (i.e. accumulated meaning) by writing it like this God. You can see the form of “God” behind the line, but you know I am denouncing how this word has been used by others.
Again, we know our culture has many ideas about “love”. I want to use the word “love” because I have nothing better to explain the concepts I associate with “love”, but I do not want my reader to merely assume that when I write “love” I mean the same thing as the author of the Twilight series, or as it is depicted by short-lived Hollywood “romances”, or what the show host of the Food Network says about her favorite hamburger. So I write love.
While sous rature is not easy on the eyes it is effective in communication. It affirms the “inadequate, yet necessary” nature of words like “god”, “love”, “being” and so forth. I wonder how many words in our culture could use a bit of sous rature when we write them?!
Brian,
Btw, I hope you might also discover the great thinker and philosopher: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz! He created the word – Theodicy! Leibniz also wrote an essay: On the Incarnation of God or Hypostatic Union. See also his work on both “character” and the “law of expression”. A master of the law of language, his philosophy centered in metaphysis. A great intellectual & thinker!
So do you plan on using this as a mode of communicating now in your writing here on the blog? 😉
Btw, also Mystery is attributed to God not because of the poverty or problem of the human intellect in itself (though flawed), but because it belongs to the very nature of God.
@Bobby: Not a bad idea!
@Brian,
A blog would be a perfect place to use something like this 🙂 . . . have a good one, Brian!
Is there any suggested ratio in using this
techniqueNope, but I assume over use can hurt the eyes of a reader! Also, I imagine that once used you have an opportunity to try to infuse the word with newer meaning that can be used through the remaining discourse.
I think it is T.C I have seen use the strike through on his blog posts and have thought he was correcting a typo… Perhaps he has been using this technique.
I wonder how common this type of technique is used within the college context and would a student be marked down for its use if the marker was not aware of this writing style.
I assume that sous rature would not be smiled upon by most graders. It may be that they misunderstand; it may be that they have no idea why a student did such a thing.
If you were going to use it then; it would be best to add a footnote about it.
Oddly enough, that seems like it would counter the intended impact. It is aimed to shock and stop. It is written to make the reader ponder what point is being made. I’d do it on a blog, or in a book if I wrote one, but not with a grade on the line. I guess I am not a rebel!
Fair enough. It certainly is an interesting technique. I am doing Wisdom Literature next semester…I might use it in one of my reflections…. 😉
My parochial Catholic Irish Nuns would have shot that in the can! lol I can hear the Sisters now.. That is just begging the question of writing and communication! But my time was very different than now of course.
I would love to hear how the grader responds. If you do it let me know what is said!
@Fr. Robert: My assumption is little has changed. I can’t think of any of my professors who would take it favorably.
Being a weekly reflection I would get away with it more so then in the actual major assignment. I might send an email and check up on it. btw…I just used this in a comment I made on my blog… I love it.
Yeah, I can see me trying to argue with the Catholic Nuns in my youth…a no go certainly! Though it has its literary place, one could also argue. Yeah, I would have tried it iin my day. Strange, but I had the rebel spirit, yep! lol
Btw, my rebel spirit was broken by a Royal Marine Sgt Major!….true! lol Well almost! 🙂