Derrida

After watching the documentary film, Derrida, in class, I feel as though I have a better grasp of Derrida's ideas, because I now have a better understanding of Derrida as a person. I thought Derrida seemed like a very pleasant person. He was funny at times, and very down to earth. He didn't try to flaunt himself in a superior manner, but instead admitted openly that "this is not how I really am--first of all, I don't dress like this." By admitting to these things, he made himself seem more approachable, and less intimidating. When it came to the interview process, it was made very clear that Derrida avoided many direct questions asked of him, and instead beat around the bush. He openly resisted the interview process by not answering the questions asked of him, but instead talked about different things that appealed to him. In one particular occasion, the interviewer asks Derrida how him and his wife met each other. At first, Derrida delays answering the question by saying that he cannot answer the question given to him with all these interruptions (camera and lights). After a slight delay, Derrida says that he won't tell everything--he will only agree to say the superficial things, such as facts and dates. Derrida fails to open up about his personal life, because the telling of a story is an inadequate resort. Both Marguerite and him think the same thing, but say nothing in confidence with one another. Derrida stated that certain details about a person's life should remain hidden. I think the interviewer was trying to get Derrida to open up about his personal life, because much emphasis is placed on where a person came from. The interviewer wanted Derrida to disclose personal information about himself so that the audience could gain a better insight into Derrida's life and him as a person. However, Derrida felt that a person's feelings and reflections concerning certain things should remain hidden, because no story told could live up to the actual experience. He could not explain certain moments in his life, because they would all prove to be insufficient. By only giving facts and dates, Derrida left the actual story to his wife and himself. If Derrida were to disclose all the personal details of how he met his wife, the story would become tainted by other's judgement. Therefore, he leaves the memory to only his wife and himself, keeping it pure and untainted, which is the most important thing of all. Because the interviewer felt as though it was important to portray Derrida as best as possible, and Derrida felt as though it was important to preserve himself from becoming the iconic image they wanted him to be, there was a direct disconnect between the two forces. However, despite the interviewer's attempts, Derrida remained true to himself.