Intro to KritiksIntro to Kritiks

With help from J. Heidt, Jason With help from J. Heidt, Jason Regnier, Dinger, and postmodern Regnier, Dinger, and postmodern

clowns everywhere.clowns everywhere.

2 Parts2 Parts

How to Sell the K How to Sell the K on the Negativeon the Negative

Intro to some basic Intro to some basic philosophyphilosophy

The Importance of FramingThe Importance of Framing Robert Entman writes, “Framing essentially involves selection and salience.  To

frame is to select some aspects of a perceived reality and make them more salient in a communicating text, in such a way as to promote a particular problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation, and/or treatment recommendation for the item described” (1993, 52).

How Frames Work: “[They] highlight some bits of information about an item that is the subject of a communication, thereby elevating them in salience.  [Salience] means making a piece of information more noticeable, meaningful, or memorable to audiences.  An increase in salience enhances the probability that receivers will perceive the information, discern meaning and thus process it, and store it in memory” (53).

Frames perform 4 primary functions • define problems: determine what a causal agent is doing with what costs and benefits, usually

measured in terms of common cultural values. • diagnose causes: identify the forces creating the problem. • make moral judgments: evaluate causal agents and their effects. • suggest remedies: offer and justify treatments for the problems and predict their likely effects.

Frames have at least 4 locations in the communication process: • the communicator: who makes conscious and unconscious framing judgments in deciding what to say

and are guided by frames that organize their belief systems. • the text: which contains frames, which are manifested by the presence or absence of certain

keywords, stock phrases, stereotyped images, sources of information, and sentences that provide thematically reinforcing clusters of facts or judgments.

• the receiver: who’s thinking is guided by frames, where conclusions may or may not reflect the frames in the text and the framing intention of the communicator

• the culture: which is the stock of commonly invoked frames; culture  might be defined as the empirically demonstrable set of common frames exhibited in the discourse and thinking of most people in a social grouping

But what does that mean?But what does that mean? How the affirmative describes the world is not How the affirmative describes the world is not

objectively true (ie there are other ways to view objectively true (ie there are other ways to view the world). the world).

When debating kritiks, your job is to attach a When debating kritiks, your job is to attach a moral evaluation to their view of the world and moral evaluation to their view of the world and present a different vision of realitypresent a different vision of reality

Examples of framing 1st Examples of framing 1st 22ndnd and one more example for the and one more example for the

holiday/children holiday/children

Selling the kritik on the NegSelling the kritik on the Neg9 components9 components

1nc 1nc CxCx Neg BlockNeg Block FrameworkFramework ImpactImpact AlternativeAlternative PermPerm Step by Step Step by Step

PreparationPreparation Evolution as the Evolution as the

season goes onseason goes on

#1- The INC#1- The INC 1) Organized, Sections Labeled. Accurate 1) Organized, Sections Labeled. Accurate

numbering and/or letteringnumbering and/or lettering 2) Tags and cards not obscenely long2) Tags and cards not obscenely long 3)Clear Alterative text3)Clear Alterative text 4) Variety in the shell4) Variety in the shell

LinksLinks ImpactsImpacts AltAlt Pragmatism Bad/Some framework argPragmatism Bad/Some framework arg

5) Flexible- should depend on the team 5) Flexible- should depend on the team and judgeand judge

6) Slow down a little6) Slow down a little

Bad TaggingBad Tagging

The affirmative engages in widespread premeditated murder through its use of hierarchal assumptions that reside within the evil structures of capitalism, that will inevitably lead to the destruction of the worker within the nation state and destroy all autonomy within ourselves and our being, which is clearly the zero point of the holocaust and leads to ongoing violence, widespread genocide, and extinction. Our Zizek evidence postdates any of the Zizek evidence and is the deepest philosophical evaluation possible. This supercedes any of their ontological or epistomological questions.

Better TaggingBetter Tagging By deploying new tech By deploying new tech

into space to develop into space to develop R&D and claiming a R&D and claiming a space weaponization space weaponization advantage, the advantage, the affirmative further affirmative further stratifies government stratifies government spending makes those in spending makes those in poverty dependent on a poverty dependent on a cycle of unsustainable cycle of unsustainable capital development. capital development. This cycle destroys This cycle destroys internal autonomy, internal autonomy, furthers imperialism, and furthers imperialism, and will inevitably collapse, will inevitably collapse, causing war and death. causing war and death.

#2--The Art of Cross-X#2--The Art of Cross-X Straight forward, Straight forward,

specific, deep in the specific, deep in the literature, and literature, and almost free of almost free of jargon. This is key jargon. This is key to speaker points. to speaker points. Stand up, clear, Stand up, clear, confident, using confident, using phrases from the phrases from the evidence, no AT: evidence, no AT: questions with questions with questions. questions.

#3- The Neg Block#3- The Neg Block

1) win uniqueness (The state is hopelessly 1) win uniqueness (The state is hopelessly broken, Capitalism will destroy us all, broken, Capitalism will destroy us all, Imperialism controls all aspects of US Imperialism controls all aspects of US poicy, etc etc)poicy, etc etc)

2) Variety in the neg block. New links, new 2) Variety in the neg block. New links, new solvency arguments, new args in response solvency arguments, new args in response to 2ac arguments (some of these to 2ac arguments (some of these arguments are interchangable. For arguments are interchangable. For example you should be using your links to example you should be using your links to prove the affirmative doesnprove the affirmative doesn’’t solve). t solve).

Neg Block Continued..Neg Block Continued.. 3) Please dear god, keep your 3) Please dear god, keep your

overviews under control. You overviews under control. You are not writing a dissertation on are not writing a dissertation on your author or argument. It your author or argument. It should be no more than a should be no more than a minute long. Start with minute long. Start with ““Our k Our k turns and outweighs case turns and outweighs case becausebecause”” and then have a and then have a number of reasons why this is number of reasons why this is true. Or start out with a true. Or start out with a strategic misstep in the 2ac the strategic misstep in the 2ac the aff cannot overcome. Keep it aff cannot overcome. Keep it short and COVER. Besides, if the short and COVER. Besides, if the 1nc is clear, the thesis 1nc is clear, the thesis statement overview is not as statement overview is not as necessary because the judge necessary because the judge already got it. already got it.

Still the neg block..Still the neg block.. 4) Block out as much as you can4) Block out as much as you can 5) Use 2ac rhetoric against them if possible5) Use 2ac rhetoric against them if possible

• Pragmatism? Win a case turnPragmatism? Win a case turn• Cede the political? What leftist group is coming-leftist politics are a Cede the political? What leftist group is coming-leftist politics are a

joke- President who is losing a war with a bad economy and shameful joke- President who is losing a war with a bad economy and shameful torture scandal, still losingtorture scandal, still losing

• Theory args? Do they double turn anything on theory elsewhere?- T Theory args? Do they double turn anything on theory elsewhere?- T responses sometimes? And argue that they beg the question—if you responses sometimes? And argue that they beg the question—if you prove the state is bad, then we need to debate the K. Obvi.prove the state is bad, then we need to debate the K. Obvi.

• Not specific enough? Aff responses are laughable and not specific Not specific enough? Aff responses are laughable and not specific enough either. At least you engage the thesis of the other sides enough either. At least you engage the thesis of the other sides argument. Try to spin your links to be as specific as possibleargument. Try to spin your links to be as specific as possible

• Real World? Assert that your theory of the world is correct. What is the Real World? Assert that your theory of the world is correct. What is the line between phiosophy and policy anyhow? They get to corner the real line between phiosophy and policy anyhow? They get to corner the real world marker because their cards have shorter words in them? world marker because their cards have shorter words in them? REMEMBER OUR FRAMING EXAMPLE HERE. REMEMBER OUR FRAMING EXAMPLE HERE.

6) Be a bit indignant- call out bad arguments. You really 6) Be a bit indignant- call out bad arguments. You really know what you are saying when you get here and can know what you are saying when you get here and can immediately recognize non-responsive arguments .immediately recognize non-responsive arguments .

#4- Framework#4- Framework 1) Never rely on it to win; judges vote on it less; biggest 1) Never rely on it to win; judges vote on it less; biggest

value is to pressure the 1A. IE-representations come first value is to pressure the 1A. IE-representations come first should never be your only argument.should never be your only argument.• A. Framework arguments are theoretical justifications for your A. Framework arguments are theoretical justifications for your

alternativealternative• B. Framework arguments can have a middle ground argument B. Framework arguments can have a middle ground argument

that allows the aff to be weighed; ussually the aff will make that allows the aff to be weighed; ussually the aff will make this. So you should make a this. So you should make a ““you exclude the Kyou exclude the K”” argument to argument to get back to middle gound claim. (this is why we use our links get back to middle gound claim. (this is why we use our links to prove the aff doesnto prove the aff doesn’’t solve, uses constructed threats, etc—to t solve, uses constructed threats, etc—to deny the validity of their advantage and impact claims.deny the validity of their advantage and impact claims.

2)Having said that, if you do use it, make sure to impact it 2)Having said that, if you do use it, make sure to impact it in the 2nr after the aff screws upin the 2nr after the aff screws up

3) Finally, have a block ready to argue that aff choice of the 3) Finally, have a block ready to argue that aff choice of the framework is bad—it is about weighing impacts—they are framework is bad—it is about weighing impacts—they are allowed to argue that representations do not come first, allowed to argue that representations do not come first, they just have to be able to say why.they just have to be able to say why.

#5- Impacts#5- Impacts 1) Specific turns the case arguments-root cause, makes 1) Specific turns the case arguments-root cause, makes things worse, SAY WHYthings worse, SAY WHY

2) Inevitability, Try or die, extinction is inevitable via a 2) Inevitability, Try or die, extinction is inevitable via a mechanism the aff cannot solve. Example, aff mechanism the aff cannot solve. Example, aff solves asteroids, you try to turn Asteroids with solves asteroids, you try to turn Asteroids with some debris args but also claim the Aff kills the some debris args but also claim the Aff kills the environment and lead to a militarized space race, environment and lead to a militarized space race, the aff cannot solve that extinction impact so it the aff cannot solve that extinction impact so it helps in case they win some solvencyhelps in case they win some solvency

3) Examples/empirics- Challenger, Contact movie 3) Examples/empirics- Challenger, Contact movie (SETI), NASA, etc. Examples from current (SETI), NASA, etc. Examples from current events and the obama administration spin will events and the obama administration spin will help you contain aff turns and permutations. help you contain aff turns and permutations.

4) Diversity is key. Goal should be to force the 1ar to 4) Diversity is key. Goal should be to force the 1ar to drop a major argument every debate and you can drop a major argument every debate and you can start the 2nr with a list of concessions you can start the 2nr with a list of concessions you can impactimpact

5) You can have D-Rule impacts like 5) You can have D-Rule impacts like ““no value to lifeno value to life”” or or ““ontology firstontology first”” but most judges would rather but most judges would rather vote on case turns or K outwieghs the casevote on case turns or K outwieghs the case

6) Advantage Areas-it is a narrow enough topic that 6) Advantage Areas-it is a narrow enough topic that this should be fairly easy to prep vs. specific this should be fairly easy to prep vs. specific advantage areas- soft power, hege, terrorism, advantage areas- soft power, hege, terrorism, poverty, asteroids, other diseases, patriarchy, poverty, asteroids, other diseases, patriarchy, genocide, economy, environment..you should genocide, economy, environment..you should have impact args on all of these.have impact args on all of these.

#6- The Alternative#6- The Alternative

The Alternative TipsThe Alternative Tips Ideally the alternative should both a) solve your impacts Ideally the alternative should both a) solve your impacts

and b) solve the caseand b) solve the case

Already mentioned in part:Already mentioned in part:1) Prepare CX answers and blocks on key questions like if you 1) Prepare CX answers and blocks on key questions like if you

defend the existence of the state, what the role of the defend the existence of the state, what the role of the judge is, if you advocate part of the planjudge is, if you advocate part of the plan

2) Framework arguments to protect the alternative2) Framework arguments to protect the alternative3) Turns the case or external impacts even if you lose the 3) Turns the case or external impacts even if you lose the

framework framework 4) Tie arguments to a role of the ballot/role of the intellectual 4) Tie arguments to a role of the ballot/role of the intellectual

argument about acknowleging our own lack of power to argument about acknowleging our own lack of power to enact change. This is how you conflate the alternative with enact change. This is how you conflate the alternative with the frameworkthe framework

Alt tips continued..Alt tips continued.. New:New:5) Create a world in which your alternative makes sense on a 5) Create a world in which your alternative makes sense on a

policy level ; ie- enacting a social movementpolicy level ; ie- enacting a social movement’’s agendas agenda6) More specific alt depending on you k- ie the alternative 6) More specific alt depending on you k- ie the alternative

could be over-identification which does the opposite of the could be over-identification which does the opposite of the plan, rejection which opens new space for evalutation, etcplan, rejection which opens new space for evalutation, etc

7) Use 7) Use ““even ifeven if”” statements. statements. ““Even if they win the alternative Even if they win the alternative doesndoesn’’t solve much, wet solve much, we’’ve proven the aff doesnve proven the aff doesn’’t do t do anything except distract us from real solutions. Vote anything except distract us from real solutions. Vote negative on PRESUMPTION.negative on PRESUMPTION.

8) Never use random crap that you cannot explain,8) Never use random crap that you cannot explain,9) Always start your alternative text with 9) Always start your alternative text with ““Reject the Reject the

affirmative.affirmative.”” The next sentence should explain what the The next sentence should explain what the rejection does/your utopian vision for the alternative/what rejection does/your utopian vision for the alternative/what youyou’’re trying to problematize or rethink. ALWAYS ALWAYS re trying to problematize or rethink. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWASYS start with ALWASYS start with ““Reject the AffReject the Aff””..

#7 The #7 The PermPerm

AT: The PermAT: The Perm 1) it still links1) it still links 2) some theory argument about how if it doesn2) some theory argument about how if it doesn’’t t

link it has to be severancelink it has to be severance 3) if they perm more than your alternative, make 3) if they perm more than your alternative, make

an intrinsic argumentan intrinsic argument 4) cooption argument. (our links are soo specific 4) cooption argument. (our links are soo specific

it would corrupt the ability of the alternative to it would corrupt the ability of the alternative to solve).solve).

5) no net benefit to the permutation. (since the 5) no net benefit to the permutation. (since the aff doesnaff doesn’’t even solve, whatt even solve, what’’s the point of s the point of including it with all or part of the alternative).including it with all or part of the alternative).

6 some disad to the perm.6 some disad to the perm.

#8-Preparation #8-Preparation Step by Step: do this and you will winStep by Step: do this and you will win

Preparation TipsPreparation Tips 1) Read the whole file1) Read the whole file 2) Warrants next to the cards2) Warrants next to the cards 3) 2nc speed drills with the 1nc evidence to learn the cards too3) 2nc speed drills with the 1nc evidence to learn the cards too 4) CX drills- great for van rides, over dinner4) CX drills- great for van rides, over dinner 5) Have the 2a give a 2ac on the k. Go home and write blocks to 5) Have the 2a give a 2ac on the k. Go home and write blocks to

every answer, give the 2nc the next dayevery answer, give the 2nc the next day 6) No ev drill (really hard but great). Against a new 2nc frontline, 6) No ev drill (really hard but great). Against a new 2nc frontline,

prep a 2nc where you read tags and cites but DO NOT read the prep a 2nc where you read tags and cites but DO NOT read the text of the cards. Instead you have to paraphrase the cards in text of the cards. Instead you have to paraphrase the cards in your own words.your own words.

7) Pre-round brainstorming-when everything else is ready7) Pre-round brainstorming-when everything else is ready• Link argsLink args• Examples of recent political relevance- especially related to the caseExamples of recent political relevance- especially related to the case• Alt solves the caseAlt solves the case• Follow up in 1AC prep- if you use their cards for links you will sound Follow up in 1AC prep- if you use their cards for links you will sound

great. great.

#9- Evolution as the Season goes on#9- Evolution as the Season goes on

Tips for EvolutionTips for Evolution

1) Update with evidence1) Update with evidence 2) Update with examples 2) Update with examples 3) Keep your blocks moving3) Keep your blocks moving 4) Do not lock in- flexible debaters 4) Do not lock in- flexible debaters

are by far the most dangerousare by far the most dangerous

PART #2- Intro to philosophyPART #2- Intro to philosophy

Vocabulary Vocabulary Each asks a basic question about the world.Each asks a basic question about the world. Ethics:Ethics: Most common, asks, Most common, asks, ““What is right?What is right?”” Utilitarianism:Utilitarianism: Greatest good for the greatest number. Greatest good for the greatest number. DeontologyDeontology: Each person is an end unto his or herself. Someone who really believed in : Each person is an end unto his or herself. Someone who really believed in

this system of ethics would find the idea of the politics DA abhorrent. Cannot decide to this system of ethics would find the idea of the politics DA abhorrent. Cannot decide to use the people of the harms as a means to preventing a war that is not their fault. use the people of the harms as a means to preventing a war that is not their fault.

Logic:Logic: Math people esp. dig this, Math people esp. dig this, ““What is rational?What is rational?”” Epistemology:Epistemology: ““What is knowledge? How is it produced? How do humans learn? For What is knowledge? How is it produced? How do humans learn? For

instance, what counts as knowledge in a given field?instance, what counts as knowledge in a given field?”” Phenomenology:Phenomenology: How things are represented in our consciousness, without reference to How things are represented in our consciousness, without reference to

the status of the object outside ourselves. Will be important to postmodernism in a few the status of the object outside ourselves. Will be important to postmodernism in a few minutes. A philosophic movement that originated around the turn of the century.This minutes. A philosophic movement that originated around the turn of the century.This movement -- like Russell, G. E. Moore, and the analytic movement generally -- insisted movement -- like Russell, G. E. Moore, and the analytic movement generally -- insisted on divorcing philosophy from (empirical) psychology. The phenomenologists insisted on divorcing philosophy from (empirical) psychology. The phenomenologists insisted that philosophers could directly study the pure phenomenon of thought (intensional that philosophers could directly study the pure phenomenon of thought (intensional objects) by a bracketing technique which avoided any commitments about empirical objects) by a bracketing technique which avoided any commitments about empirical psychology.psychology.

Metaphysics:Metaphysics: ““What is it?What is it?”” Pre-Socratics like Heraclites or Anaximander who thought Pre-Socratics like Heraclites or Anaximander who thought that there were fundamental substances in the universe like fire, water, nothingness—that there were fundamental substances in the universe like fire, water, nothingness—has now shifted more to questions about the relationship of the self to the world. has now shifted more to questions about the relationship of the self to the world. Metaphysical questions address preexisting truths. Metaphysical questions address preexisting truths.

OntologyOntology: Scientists cover the atoms and know that fire is not the essential element in : Scientists cover the atoms and know that fire is not the essential element in the universe so it gives way to questions then of the universe so it gives way to questions then of ““ontologyontology””- relationships of the self to - relationships of the self to reality. What is being? reality. What is being? ““Ontology comes first.Ontology comes first.”” Heidegger Heidegger

Postmodernism: a new twistPostmodernism: a new twist(or according to Father Hahn-- really just (or according to Father Hahn-- really just ““hipperhipper””

deontologists)deontologists) Postmodernism is a movement of ideas arising from, but also Postmodernism is a movement of ideas arising from, but also

critical of elements of modernism. Because of the wide range of critical of elements of modernism. Because of the wide range of uses of the term, different elements of modernity are viewed as uses of the term, different elements of modernity are viewed as being counterproductive, and different elements of modernity are being counterproductive, and different elements of modernity are held to be critiqued.held to be critiqued.

Each of the different usages of 'postmodernism' is also inevitably Each of the different usages of 'postmodernism' is also inevitably related to some argument about the nature of knowledge, known in related to some argument about the nature of knowledge, known in philosophy as epistemology. Individuals who invoke the expression philosophy as epistemology. Individuals who invoke the expression nowadays are implicitly arguing either that there is something nowadays are implicitly arguing either that there is something fundamentally different about the transmission of meaning; or else fundamentally different about the transmission of meaning; or else that there inheres in modernism certain fundamental flaws in its that there inheres in modernism certain fundamental flaws in its epistemology.epistemology.

Pomo vs ModernistPomo vs Modernist The first umpire, a MODERNIST, says, The first umpire, a MODERNIST, says, ““There are There are

balls and thereballs and there’’s strikes, and I call s strikes, and I call ‘‘em the way em the way that they are.that they are.

The second umpire, a POSTMODERNIST, says, The second umpire, a POSTMODERNIST, says, ““ThereThere’’s balls and theres balls and there’’s strikes, and they ains strikes, and they ain’’t t nothing until I call nothing until I call ‘‘emem

Pomo questions the enlightenmentPomo questions the enlightenment

The enlightenment thinks:The enlightenment thinks:• We have an accurate representation of reality; objects We have an accurate representation of reality; objects

outside the mind can be seen in a way that is adeqate, outside the mind can be seen in a way that is adeqate, accurate, and true. Morever, these representations and accurate, and true. Morever, these representations and their accuracy will progress with sciencetheir accuracy will progress with science

• We can use these accurate representations of reality to We can use these accurate representations of reality to appropriately manipulate the world in a better visionappropriately manipulate the world in a better vision

• Those manipulations will lead us inevitably towards Those manipulations will lead us inevitably towards progress in science, government, ecology. progress in science, government, ecology. Enlightenment philosophy and modernism are deeply Enlightenment philosophy and modernism are deeply optimistic about the ability of humanity to make the optimistic about the ability of humanity to make the world betterworld better

• AKA- foundationalism, realism, humanism, AKA- foundationalism, realism, humanism, enlightenment, modernismenlightenment, modernism

Post-modernists thinkPost-modernists think

1) Representations are never perfect. 1) Representations are never perfect. There is an interaction between seeing There is an interaction between seeing and the object. They impact one anotherand the object. They impact one another

Postmodernists thinkPostmodernists think

2) There is no objective reality (or if 2) There is no objective reality (or if there is we cannot know it and must there is we cannot know it and must act like there is not one). We build act like there is not one). We build our notions of the world based on our notions of the world based on what cultures need. Examples: what cultures need. Examples: Masculinity, HegemonyMasculinity, Hegemony

Postmodernists think..,Postmodernists think..,

3) Culture matters. A lot. What is 3) Culture matters. A lot. What is ideology? Communism, socialism, ideology? Communism, socialism, capitalism, etc. Post-modernists think capitalism, etc. Post-modernists think of it a bit differently. For them, they of it a bit differently. For them, they use it to mean the invisible, common use it to mean the invisible, common sense ways in which we organize the sense ways in which we organize the world. world. • RaceRace• How we interact daily. The rules of How we interact daily. The rules of

purchasingpurchasing

Postmodernists think..Postmodernists think..

4) Question the authority of the author. 4) Question the authority of the author. Does it matter what meaning an artist Does it matter what meaning an artist intended for you to see when looking at a intended for you to see when looking at a painting? What about when you read a painting? What about when you read a poem? Roland Bathes took it all a step poem? Roland Bathes took it all a step further by proclaiming the death of the further by proclaiming the death of the author. Readers create their own author. Readers create their own meanings, regardless of the authormeanings, regardless of the author’’s s intentions: texts are therefore ever intentions: texts are therefore ever changing, unstable, and open to question.changing, unstable, and open to question.

Postmodernists think..Postmodernists think..

5) Language is a product of culture, 5) Language is a product of culture, not a reflection of reality. Foucault not a reflection of reality. Foucault said that we are said that we are ““governed and governed and paralyzed by languageparalyzed by language””. One way of . One way of getting at ideology is to investigate getting at ideology is to investigate and study language. and study language.

Postmodernists think..Postmodernists think.. 6) Language can be broken down for analysis. 6) Language can be broken down for analysis.

• Signifier—that which carries the meaning (the word or Signifier—that which carries the meaning (the word or image in our mind)image in our mind)

• Signified—that to which the signifier refers to. The thing Signified—that to which the signifier refers to. The thing of concept, denoted by the signof concept, denoted by the sign

Signifier- creepy music you hear before the villain attacks Signifier- creepy music you hear before the villain attacks in a horror filmin a horror film

Signified- the cultural meaning that the music carries with Signified- the cultural meaning that the music carries with it to make you scaredit to make you scared

• Signification is the process that binds the signifier to the Signification is the process that binds the signifier to the signified. A sign must be understood in relation to which signified. A sign must be understood in relation to which has no meaning outside the system of signification. has no meaning outside the system of signification. Words do not mean things, people mean things. There is Words do not mean things, people mean things. There is no intrinsic or essential meaning. Only Shared no intrinsic or essential meaning. Only Shared convention.convention.

Postmodernists think…Postmodernists think…

7) Linguistic criticism can be taken a 7) Linguistic criticism can be taken a step furtherstep further• Deconstruction- At attack on reason Deconstruction- At attack on reason

itself. The target is Logocentrism. A itself. The target is Logocentrism. A deconstructionist thinks language deconstructionist thinks language hierarchy can be attacked through hierarchy can be attacked through attacks on the language system. attacks on the language system.

DeconstructionismDeconstructionism

Question: How many Deconstructionists Question: How many Deconstructionists does it take to screw in a light bulb?does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Answer:Answer:

Even the framing of this question makes a Even the framing of this question makes a grid of patriarchal assumptions that grid of patriarchal assumptions that reveals a slavish devotion to phallocentric reveals a slavish devotion to phallocentric ideas - such as, technical accomplishment ideas - such as, technical accomplishment has inherent value, knowledge can be has inherent value, knowledge can be attained and quantities of labor can be attained and quantities of labor can be determined empirically, all of which makes determined empirically, all of which makes a discourse which further marginalizes the a discourse which further marginalizes the already disenfranchised. Obvi.already disenfranchised. Obvi.

So we know what Postmodernists DONSo we know what Postmodernists DON’’T T like- what do they actually advocate?like- what do they actually advocate?

Part of the problem is Postmodernists are so Part of the problem is Postmodernists are so critical. It is a large field of philosophy. There is critical. It is a large field of philosophy. There is not one thing that not one thing that ““postmodernistspostmodernists”” advocate. advocate.

Power is everywhere- Foucault. Power is Power is everywhere- Foucault. Power is everywhere and intimately connected to what everywhere and intimately connected to what counts as knowledge. Insanity is a good example.counts as knowledge. Insanity is a good example.

Criticism is action. The process of questioning Criticism is action. The process of questioning representation is never ending. People complain representation is never ending. People complain that postmodernism has no goal and no end point that postmodernism has no goal and no end point but postmodernists agree and think that it is but postmodernists agree and think that it is CRITICAL to be without a goal. De-naturalizing, or CRITICAL to be without a goal. De-naturalizing, or revealing ways in which culture is arbitrary is, in revealing ways in which culture is arbitrary is, in itself, a form of liberation. itself, a form of liberation.

They are nihilists! They believe in nothing!They are nihilists! They believe in nothing!

Are they actually nihilists?Are they actually nihilists? Some say postmodernists can have Some say postmodernists can have

pragmatic value. Even if there is no pragmatic value. Even if there is no foundation for knowledge, we can still look foundation for knowledge, we can still look at our common history and devise ways to at our common history and devise ways to make the world bettermake the world better

It is the modernists who are nihilists! It is the modernists who are nihilists! Scientific fantasies about progress create Scientific fantasies about progress create the very conditions for continued the very conditions for continued oppression and waroppression and war

Criticism is in and of itself an end that Criticism is in and of itself an end that creates creates ““progressprogress””

Who needs a stinking alternative? Only Who needs a stinking alternative? Only those damn modernists.those damn modernists.

II’’m so Postmodern..m so Postmodern..

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THE END. THE END.

A PMJ productionA PMJ production