The gradual emergence of the ‘post-‘as prefix in the discourses of popular culture, academic enquiry and the social sciences have been overlooked and categorically neglected. Yet when encountered at a semantic level and part of morphological compounds such as post-colonial, post-modern, post-human or post-liberal [among others] one displays certain conservativeness with respect to its precise meaning(s) and semantic value(s) depending upon the free morpheme the post- adds itself to. This skepticism and semantic doubt is not external to the post-as-prefix but is inherent to its interior structure as an ‘undecidable’ belonging outside the logic of binary production. This essay would attempt to trace this post-as-prefix as a Derridean supplement [undecidable] that both adheres to and deviates from the semantic value of its root term, thereby displaying a double attitude of fidelity and infidelity towards it. It would further explain the ‘post-as-prefix‘, among other such supplemental bound morphemes [neo-, pan- or trans-] that indicate the coming of a new epoch in social, cultural and political spaces in the world, an epoch that reveals and revels in the true nature of the linguistic sign [as a supplement for the thing], and subsequently the true movement of history and historical production.
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- The “Post-” as Prefix
- The "Post-" as Fidelity and Infidelity
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay aims to analyze the emergence and function of the "post-" prefix in academic and popular discourse. It explores how this prefix modifies the meaning of its root words, creating a complex interplay of adherence and departure from the original signification. The analysis uses examples from literature and poetry to illustrate the "post-" prefix's double attitude of fidelity and infidelity.
- The semantic and morphological function of the "post-" prefix.
- The "post-" prefix as a Derridean supplement, exhibiting a double attitude of fidelity and infidelity.
- The significance of the "post-" prefix in marking a new epoch in social, cultural, and political spaces.
- The relationship between the "post-" prefix and the evolution of meaning in linguistic signs.
- Examples from literature to illustrate the changing meaning and function of words with the "post-" prefix.
Chapter Summaries
The “Post-” as Prefix: This section introduces the essay's central focus: the ambiguous and often overlooked usage of the "post-" prefix in various academic and popular cultural contexts. It highlights the inherent ambiguity of "post-" compounds like "post-colonial," "post-modern," and "post-human," emphasizing that their meaning is not simply an extension of the root word but involves a complex interplay of continuity and rupture. The author argues that this ambiguity stems from the prefix's nature as a Derridean "undecidable," existing outside the logic of binary oppositions. The section establishes the essay's goal: to unravel the mysteries surrounding the "post-" prefix and analyze its function as a marker of a new epoch in socio-cultural and political spheres.
The "Post-" as Fidelity and Infidelity: This section delves into the dual nature of the "post-" prefix, demonstrating how it simultaneously adheres to and deviates from the meaning of the root word. The author introduces the concept of a "double attitude" – a simultaneous fidelity and infidelity – illustrated through examples from modernist and postmodernist poetry. The comparison between Wallace Stevens' "The Anecdote of a Jar" (representing modernism) and Sylvia Plath's "Lady Lazarus" (representing postmodernism) showcases how "post-" signifies both a continuation and a critical re-evaluation of preceding concepts. The analysis emphasizes the "post-" prefix's role in altering the meaning, appearance, and internal stability of linguistic signs, demonstrating its capacity to both extend and challenge the significations of its root terms. The example analysis of Plath's poem further illustrates how a "post-" prefix can reverse or contest the very tradition (modernism) it relates to.
Keywords
Post-prefix, undecidable, supplement, double attitude, epoch, postmodernism, modernism, fidelity, infidelity, linguistic sign, socio-political function, semantic meaning, literary analysis, cultural movements.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this essay?
The essay focuses on the analysis of the "post-" prefix in academic and popular discourse. It examines how this prefix modifies the meaning of its root words, creating a complex interplay of adherence to and departure from the original signification. The analysis explores its function as a marker of a new epoch in social, cultural, and political spaces.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include the semantic and morphological function of the "post-" prefix; its role as a Derridean supplement exhibiting a double attitude of fidelity and infidelity; its significance in marking new epochs; the relationship between the "post-" prefix and the evolution of meaning in linguistic signs; and illustrative examples from literature.
What is the essay's methodology?
The essay employs a literary analysis approach, using examples from literature and poetry to illustrate the "post-" prefix's double attitude of fidelity and infidelity. The analysis explores the prefix's function as a marker of both continuity and rupture.
What specific examples are used in the essay?
The essay uses examples from modernist and postmodernist poetry to illustrate the dual nature of the "post-" prefix. A comparison between Wallace Stevens' "The Anecdote of a Jar" and Sylvia Plath's "Lady Lazarus" is used to showcase how "post-" signifies both continuation and critical re-evaluation.
What is the significance of the "post-" prefix according to the essay?
The essay argues that the "post-" prefix is not merely an extension of the root word, but involves a complex interplay of continuity and rupture. It functions as a marker of a new epoch, altering the meaning, appearance, and internal stability of linguistic signs, and simultaneously adhering to and deviating from the meaning of the root word.
What are the key concepts discussed in the essay?
Key concepts include "post-prefix," "undecidable," "supplement," "double attitude," "fidelity," "infidelity," "linguistic sign," "socio-political function," "semantic meaning," "literary analysis," and "cultural movements."
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of two chapters. The first, "The “Post-” as Prefix," introduces the ambiguous usage of the "post-" prefix and its inherent ambiguity. The second, "The "Post-" as Fidelity and Infidelity," delves into the dual nature of the prefix, showing how it simultaneously adheres to and deviates from the original meaning. It uses literary examples to illustrate this "double attitude."
What is the overall goal of the essay?
The essay aims to analyze the emergence and function of the "post-" prefix, unraveling its mysteries and analyzing its function as a marker of a new epoch in socio-cultural and political spheres.
Who is the intended audience for this essay?
The intended audience is likely academic, given the focus on literary analysis and theoretical concepts, such as Derrida's work.
- Quote paper
- Arindam Nandi (Author), 2020, The 'Post-' as Prefix in Popular Culture and the Social Sciences, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/535027
