Deconstruction in Film

 

Deconstruction in Film: Questioning Meaning and Structure

Introduction

Deconstruction, rooted in Jacques Derrida’s philosophy, challenges fixed interpretations in film. It argues that meaning in cinema is unstable — every image contains contradictions and hidden ideologies.

Core Concepts

• Films don’t have single meanings; they are open texts inviting multiple readings.

• Language, editing, and performance constantly undermine their own certainties.

• Deconstruction exposes how power and ideology operate through cinematic representation.

Bullet Highlights

• Binary Breakdown: Challenges oppositions such as real/fake, male/female, good/evil.

• Intertextuality: Films reference and destabilize other texts to reveal ideological gaps.

• Spectator Awareness: Encourages audiences to question rather than consume passively.

Example

David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive (2001) blurs dream and reality, unraveling Hollywood myths of identity and success.