Introduction to Jacques Derrida: Dr. Robert Trumbull

Jacques Derrida (1930–2004) was the founder of “deconstruction,” a way of criticizing not only both literary and philosophical texts but also political institutions. Although Derrida at times expressed regret concerning the fate of the word “deconstruction,” its popularity indicates the wide-ranging influence of his thought, in philosophy, in literary criticism and theory, in art and, in particular, architectural theory, and in political theory. Indeed, Derrida’s fame nearly reached the status of a media star, with hundreds of people filling auditoriums to hear him speak, with films and televisions programs devoted to him, with countless books and articles devoted to his thinking.

This will be an talk followed by Q and A on Jacques Derrida, with Dr. Robert Trumbull from UW-Bothell.

Dr. Trumbull specializes in 20th century Continental philosophy, concentrating on Jacques Derrida. His work is situated within a broader body of current scholarship that has sought to show how Derridean deconstruction bears on issues well beyond the thought of language with which it is most often associated. This research has culminated in his current book project, Life-Death: Derrida, Freud, and the Future of Deconstruction. He is the youngest contributor to an edited collection on the Derrida-Foucault debate entitled Foucault/Derrida Fifty Years Later and the Books Editor for Derrida Today.