deconstruction

deconstruction
    n 1: a philosophical theory of criticism (usually of literature
         or film) that seeks to expose deep-seated contradictions in
         a work by delving below its surface meaning [syn:
         {deconstruction}, {deconstructionism}]
    

deconstruction \de`con*struc"tion\
   (d[-e]`k[u^]n*str[u^]k"sh[u^]n), n.
   A philosophical theory of criticism (usually of literature or
   film) that seeks to expose deep-seated contradictions in a
   work by delving below its surface meaning. This method
   questions the ability of language to represent a fixed
   reality, and proposes that a text has no stable meaning
   because words only refer to other words, that metaphysical or
   ethnocentric assumptions about the meaning of words must be
   questioned, and words may be redefined in new contexts and
   new, equally valid and even contradictory meanings may be
   found. Such new interpretations may be based on the
   philosophical, political, or social implications of the words
   of a text, rather than solely on attempts to determine the
   author's intentions. --RHUD --MW10

   Syn: deconstructionism.
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

   2. the process of criticising or interpreting a text by the
      method of {deconstruction[1]}.
      [PJC]