Zahra Roozafzai
Cite: Roozafzai, Z. Deconstructing the Binaries in Contemporary Cultural Narratives of Authorship. JDAH 6(1), 14-29, (2025). https://doi.org/10.33847/2712-8148.6.1_2.
Abstract. The present research delves into the key concepts of poststructuralism, focusing on the “demise of the author” and the deconstruction of binary oppositions in contemporary cultural narratives. By examining the interconnected relationship between language, power, and knowledge, the study explores the fluid, unstable nature of meaning and highlights the significance of discourse in shaping our understanding of the world. Drawing upon the works of prominent poststructuralist thinkers including Jacques Derrida, Roland Barthes, and Michel Foucault, this study offers a critical analysis of the role of the reader in creating meaning and questions traditional hierarchies that oversimplify complex relationships in a thematic analysis research methodology and the corpus of 80 works. Central to this research is the exploration of the “demise of the author” concept, as proposed by Barthes, which argues that the author’s intentions or biographical context are not the ultimate source of a text’s meaning. Instead, meaning is created by the reader through their interaction with the text. Through a poststructuralist lens, the study deconstructs established structures in contemporary cultural narratives and seeks alternative perspectives on meaning and knowledge. By examining the interplay of language, power, and knowledge, this research challenges binary oppositions and reevaluates the authority of the author, encouraging scholars and readers to engage with texts and narratives in innovative, thought-provoking ways. In conclusion, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse in the fields of literature, philosophy, linguistics, and cultural studies, offering fresh insights into poststructuralism and its applications in contemporary society. This topic is especially relevant now, when authorship is being reshaped by artificial intelligence.
Keywords: Poststructuralism, Deconstruction, Authorial intent, Discourse Analysis, Intertextuality, Authorship.
Acknowledgments
My Sincere acknowledgements go to Ms. Parisa Zaeri, University of Bauhaus – Weimar, for her advisory and practical contribution in data collection.
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Published online 09.06.2025