The Power of Writing

In the video of an interview with Jacques Derrida he talks about his true feelings regarding his writing. Derrida begins the interview by saying that he has never renounced anything that he has written. He feels that everything he has written is something that was needed to be conveyed to everyone and that he could not hold back no matter how controversial his arguments may have been. At times he has even argued with himself about whether or not he should go ahead with what he is writing. Often he has considered what he was writing at the time to be too controversial but he still kept his position and his thoughts did not stop him from writing. This has often come up when he was attacking politicians or groups of people where his thoughts might be considered controversial. Derrida tells us of how he compares himself to the classic childlike dream that Freud spoke about, where a child is scared because everyone sees them in their underwear. This could comparable in a sense for Derrida because he is making himself "naked" to the world in such a way that everyone is watching him when he makes outlandish and controversial statements. He is then the center of attention just as a child in their underwear.
One thing that I found to be interesting is when Derrida mentions how when he writes he "says" what must be "said". Incorrect english because when we are writing no one is talking. The paper is telling us in written language, not spoken. It is almost as though Derrida is hiding behind his pen and paper and maybe that is what gives him the power he feels to write whatever he wants no matter how controversial it may be. Because when he is writing it, who is there to argue with him? No one. If he was to speak it, this is where he would run into more problems.