Memoirs of the Blind: The Self-Portrait and Other Ruins

149 Pages·1993·9.316 MB·English

by  Jacques Derrida, Pascale-Anne Brault

JacqDueersr ida
Memoiorfst hBel ind
TheS elf-PoarntOdrt ahiRetur i ns
Translated
by
PascAanlnBeer- aaunlMdti chaaeals
N
TheU niverosfCi htiyc aPgroe ss
ChicaagnodL ondon
TheU niverosfiC thyi caPgroe sCsh,i ca6g0o6 37
TheU niverosfiC thyi caPgroe sLst,d L.o,n don
© 199b3y T heU niverosfiC thyi cago
Alrli ghrtess ervPeudb.l is1h9e9d3
Printientd h eU niteSdt atoefsA merica
090 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 1 234657
ISBN0:- 226-143(0c7l-o4t h)
ISBN0:- 226-143(0p8a-p2e r)
Originpaulbllyi sahsMe de moidr'easv eI.;uagulteo:p ortrait
eatu trrueis©n eEdsi,t idoenI saR eunidoens
museensa tion1a9u9x0,.
LibraorfCy o ngress Cataloging-Diant-aP ublication
DerriJdaac,q ues.
[Memoirde'sa veuEgnlgel.i sh]
Memoirosft heb lin:td h es elf-poarntdor tahietrr u iInJs a cques
Derridtar a;n slbaytP eads cale-BArnanueal ntdM ichaNeala s.
p. em.
Frencehd .o rignpaulbllyi sohnet dh eo ccasoifoa nne xhibition
heladt t heL ouvrMeu seumP,a riOsc,t 2.6 ,1 990-J2a1n,1. 9 91.
ISBN0:- 226-14307I-S4B.N0-:- 226-143(0p8b-k2. )
1. Drawing-Philos2o.p Vhiys.u paelr cepti3o.n B.l inidna rt.
4. AesthetiIc.Ms u.s edeu L ouvreI I.T itle.
NC703.D471139 93
741'.01-dc20 92-27027
CIP
Thibso oki sp rintoenad c id-pfarpeeer .
Contents
TranslParteofrasc'e
vn
Memoiorfs tBhlei nTdh:eS elf-Portrait and Other Ruins
LisotfI llustr1a3ti1o ns

TranslParteofrasc'e
TheF renecdhi toifoM ne mrosio ft he Bwlasifi nrsdpt u bliosnht ehde
occasione xhoifb iaotfnti hosena mnea me haettl hdLe o uvMrues eum
(NpaoleHoanl flor)m Oct2ob61e,r9 9t0oJ anu2ar,11y 919O.r ganized
by DiedrMar,e mroosif t hBel iwnadts h fier sitnan ews eroifee xsh ibitions
entiPtalretdis -Por"riT akiSnigd eIsnt. h"e iinrt rodutcoDt eirorni da's
bookF,r an�Voiiasteat nedR egis Mriecshpevelec,lht yei acdu raatnodr
curaotfto hrDe e partomfeG nrta phAircta stt hLeo uvirnet,r odtuhciesd
news eens:
Ther uloeft hgea miesr athseirm ptloeg i:v teh ceh oiocfae d iscourse
ando ft hder awitnhgawsto uljdsu tify it-dtraakwfeionntr gh sme o st
parftr otmh Leo uvrceo'lsl ectipoenrss-otnoak lniotwfinoe trsh ecirri ti­
caalb ilihtoiweesvd,ei rv etrhseems aey b eT.h et ercmoh iewc oulrde fer
notto s ompee rsopnraeld ilewchetriteoh nge r atuifltioguhostfs s u bjec­
tivwiotuylw di no utb,u tr,a thteoarr ,e asomneeddi taotnti hodene mon­
stravtiirvteou fte h weo rak ndi tasr gmuentatviavleuN ea.tr ualtlhye,
curataorrcesl osaeslsyo ciwaitttehhd e esxeh ibiatnidoo fnfste ort he
perscoonm imssiotnheekdin ro wleodfrg ees ourBcuetts hf.er eedoofm
thaeu throerm asionvse raenidg ni s ackrniogwfhlortem dt ghseetd a arst
ani nvioplraibnlcei ple.
Onem ayc ertawionnldyae rb outhtre e asfoonsr u cahp roj.We hcyt
thdei scoouftr hsee uniniint dioaam taeidn whsepreec itpahrleei lvssat?i
Butt oa stkh qeu estiisao lnr etaodg yi vteh aen swIetr .t ioas d mithta t
arhta ash artdi maec commodiattsitenomlg of n opolieisfe, r uedvietne ;
thaetv en hiswtoourlida natsgh ratethe ee ixre gesstiasnt dobs ee nriched
byo thaeprp roabcyha enso,t ghearzT eh.ifi sr setx hibiwthiiocsnhp, e aks
ofb limnedn a ndv isioniasrs ioaero stfm, e taphor Jfaocrq Duteehrsi­ s.
ridrae'flse cgtoieotsnot hhee aorftt h peh enomoefvn ias ifornob,ml ind­
nestsoe videOnnceew .i lnlod, oubsto,m etihmaevtseo m akaen e ffort
to rienra edg isutnefrasm itloi antrhe eo phByuttie f.t h gea mwee rneo t
difficuwlotu,li dtn ot lbeesp sl ayfOunle? cnaonn ethtealkeiest s for
granteadt t thhea te ndj oonufer eyta hceh woinlhela vfeou ndt heir own
light: whath eornieen,t hlleei atreanrswsa e lla lst he figusreantsiev,e
arteh wea yosfo epnienyge s.
Vll
TranslaPtroerfsa'c e
ButM emrosoif t hBel dii nsm orteh an saic maptlayl oofga nue ex hibi­
tioFni.r tshtte,e xptr esented aldornagw iwaningtdpsh ai ntthiaentt g hse
exhibiwtaiso nnt ohtse a maes tfhouantdh erSee.c onad n,u mbeorf
worktsh acto uld bene oxth ibhiatvebedee ni ncluhdeerdwe h:i le the
exhibidtiisopnls aoymefedor ty-dfroauwri anngdps ai ntitnhgbeso ,o hka s
sevye-notnFei.n atlhlweyo ,r kasrn eo ptr eseinntt ehsdea moer dienrt he
booaksi nt heex hibi(toTic oonm.p atrhteew oo rderoinneg sm,ca oyn sult
thlei osfti llustwrhaetraielot lnh swe o rkesx hibairtbeer di edfleys cribed
andth eniurm bienrt heex hibgiitvi.eo)nn
Memroosif t hBel iinasdb ouatm,o nmga ny otthhientrgh sde,e battt he
origoifan ld lr awiBnugtt. h eirse aadl esbo t-ianne xhauosntei-balte
thoer igoiftn r anslaantdi otsnho,e tyfporimcualolaf et hanksn oatr e
simpolbyl igatory oefmx opdreesbstsueyitx o enmsp lary ionfsa cnr iptions
anxiceotnyc erand ienbtgth acta nne vberer epaTihdu.ws e wofiurlsdt
likteot haDnakv iKdr eflolbr r ingtihnpigrs o jteooc utar t tenatnidfoo rn
helpuisna gte vesrty eapl otnhgwe a yW.e are ianldseob tMedar iteo­
ClaiPraes quoife rtU hnei verosfi tPyaX ,ra ilso wnig tPhh ilBirpo wn,
AnnVaa ugnh,B obV alliLearw,r eWnacxem ana,n dS i�mneZ urawosfk i
DePaUunli verasloilftw yh,o mp rovivdaeldu acbolmem entsh ealnpde d
inv ariwoauysAs l.s woe, woluiltkdoee xproeusdrse egpr atittou dReo ger
Kuin YoorfkU niverisnCi atnya dwah,og enerously matdoue s available
hiosw nu npublitsrhaensdl oaftt hitioesnx H ti.es x clelewnotr skt eeurse d
cleoafsr e veproatle nptiitaflwa hlilclsle,a riafynidin mgp rovoiuvnrig sion
inm anpyl aces.
Andfi naloluytr,h anks to Jacfqouarel slk Dihenirdsrn pieadstasi,,e nce,
ands uppofrostre, e iunstg h routihgsh- afnodmr a kiinetga sfioeurrst o
believe.
Toc oncliutmd aey,b ew ortnho titnhgat th see rTiaeksi nSgi dreess umes
inN ovemb1e9r9w 2it ahne xhibiotrigoann biyzP eedt Gerre enaewna­y
titLleebd r udientsua ge[Tsh Seo unodfC loudFsyl]i:no guo tft hsWi orld.
Nowi tj usstoh appetnhsaG tr eenaiwsta hywe r itaenrd dirofet chteo r
filmT heD rautgshmsaC no'natcratfi ,l ma boutth dei fferebnectewse en
drawipnaign,t ianngds, c ulptaubroeua,tl legaonrdry u in, maabsokust
andf unemroanlu menatbso,us tt rataengdid eesb tosp,t iacnsdb linds,
aboluitv sitnagt ues arnedp rseosuiennndd trsea dw iBnugat.b ove iasl l it
abouwti tnesasnidtn egs timaobnoyul,te gacainedis n heritAanndc es.
Vlll
TranslaPtroerfsa'c e
thesietj, u sstoh appeanrste,h vee rtyh emoefsM emrosio ft hBel ind.
Henciemt a yn obte t oatlwliyt hout tiocn itteer ensMottr sTo.an llmya nn's
wordisnT heD rautgshmsaC no'natc(rtI" h avger owtnob elviete haat
reailnltye llmiagnme anktea sni ndiffepraeinntft oeprrai ,n tirnegq uires a
certbaliinn sdn-eaps artrieaflut soba ela waroefa ltlh oep ti"o)bn ust its
clossicnegn e-comwpiltmehut red erboluosw s, bursnt,a n dtd hrea wing
floatcionrgp osfte h der aughtsman.
MrT.al mannWe: nohwa vaec ontrwaictytho uM,r .N evialnledu, n der
conditoifoo uncrsh oosing.
MrN.o yeTsh:e contracto ucpror necseperlnnetia ns.gu .rhe.a s three
condi.ti.oT.nhs.ec o ntrfiarcsctto' nsd itMiro.Nne ,v ialnldte h,e irse
non eetdo w riittde o wnf oyro uw ilnle vesrei et i,st oc ancyeolu r
eyes.
MrT.al mannS:i nwceeh avneo wd epirveydo uo fy ouarc cetsoasl iving,
thisshi ornyt o ubra cwki lble ofv anltouo ey ou.
MrN.o yeIstm: a yw eldla ngflrmeo sac arectrofo rgwih ttehnce r ows.
MrS.ye mouOrrb: e s cattaebroeuadnt e staasta em bigueovuisd eonfc e
an obsaclulreeg ory.
PouclesAn:n dt hteh ird coonfyd oiutcrio onnt rcaocntc,o mittott haen t
othtewro . .a.ndl egablilnyd i. nga. n de. ffi cienutnldye rt.ak.e.n
andf owrh aitsa m anw ithopurtop e.r.tay.n df o resi.g.hit.sy o ur
death.
Blindsnd,ei ssproprainatdth iieno tne,r roufpal t iinoenoa rfig lei attihoen :
cancelolfwa htaimtoan k erse presepnotsastiitbohdlneie ff,e rbeentcwee en
thbeo dpyr opaenrd stuhpep lemtehlneit v,ib nogda yn d stachree crow,
andt hreu inaatniddo ena tohf faolrle sailgrlhe tp,r esenatnadat lilo n,
legaciesa.g aitOnhn,cea esr eDe e rritdhae'mse Mse minro soi ft hBel ind.
Likaed reatmh,e nw,h ioesfrp icnlgo uodnse, aclamno hsetat rh oibs- .
scucroem municbaettiwoepnea nsp tr,e seanntdf, u tubreet,w eDeenr rida
andG reenabweatyw,e tehne m uasnb,de tweaeltnlh o"steka insgi doens "
the ostihdoeefvr i siont-hniein g Dhetr.r wirdtiae: s
A singugleanre alao gsyi,n igulllaurs tarnai tlilouns,t orfao tnieosnel f
amonagl tlh eislel ustbrliimonedun sw hok eeepa coht hienrm emory,
whog reaentrd e cogonnieaz neo tihnet rh e night.
DerriidnM ae mrosio ft hBel ionpde nosu re yetsot hisst rafinlgiea tion,
to tohdidss o rotfc onversoardt uieoblne twedeinff ergeennte raotfi ons
ix
TranslaPtroerfsa'c e
TakiSnigd eFsor.M emoiorfst hBel innodot n ltye acuhsem su cha bout
blindvniessisao,nn d, dr-aawbionugpth ilosaonpdah ryt -blueta vuess
anothetro u wnadye rstthalene dg aocfdy r awianngvd i sitohnle,e gaocfy
representthalete igoaoncfl,y e gacy Iittt hsuwesil lhfla. v see etno tiot
interrulpetg aotcfahy m e o nocular ovridsteiorlo enau dsib nyt he hand
towatrhdio st hleerg atchyai tsp assdeodw ni nd arksnsOe.p ening eyes,
then, yes-ibnou rtd teoocrn a lnyc ela tnthdoe r me,ct ahlatlth d er aughts­
man'cso ntraalcwtac yosn cearp nlse asaunrdae c onditioanr e thnaott
onloyu otf s igbhutt, ooftu htwi osr ld.
TheF rentcihtM leem oidra'evse ucgalbnee r eaadsb ot"hm emoiarnsd"
"mmeorieofst "h bel inBde.c autshseei ngualvaerud goleneso it ndicate
gendweerh ,a voep theedr aen edl sewhetrhepe l fuor"rab ll iinnod r"d er
toa vobiod tthh gee ndsepre c"ibfilci mnadn " anadw ktwhaer d "blind
pers.o"Wne havseo metihmaedts or esotro"t b limnadn ,h"ow evteor ,
transtlhanete eu tlra'avle eu,eg ilthbeerc ause thwea rcroannitttoee rxd t
becatuhseesr iem pwleyrn eo b ettaelrt ersn.a tive
X
Memoiorfts h Bel ind
Iw riwtieot uhste eiIcn agm.Ie w .a ntteokd i ysosu r .h..aT n.hdii sts h fier stti me
Ih aveev werri titne dnta hr.ek. n .o ktn onwgwi hetIha emir n dfeoremdi lnetgte rs.
Wheretvheewrri ebl len othrienatgdh, a lto vIe you.
-DiderLoett,tt eoSr o phViolel aJnudn,1e 0 1,7 59
- Do youb elitehvi[es v ocurso yr eYzou]'l ol bsrevteh aftr otmh e
verbye ginonfit nhgii nst erIvv'iee whp ardo blfeolmlso wyionugIr. e main
skept.i.ca.l
- Buts keptiicspi rsemcl iyws heaIt' vbee etna lktiony go ua bo:u t
thdei effrenbceet ween baenldsi eeveiibnneggwt e,e bne lieovniesn ege s
[crovioriaern ]ds eeibnegt weceant,c haig nlgi mp[serene tivr-o}orn ot.
Befodroeu betv er beacs oymsetsse kme,p hsaiss dt owo i tthh eey es. The
worrde fteorav s i spuearlc epttoti hooenb ,s ervationa,n dav titgeinl­ance,
tioonft he g[arzeregd da]u rianneg x aminaOtnieio son n. tlhoeou kto,
oner efleucptoswn h at soeneers e,fl ectso nwesh eaebtsy d elaytihneg
momenotf clounsciKoene.p i[ngga nrtdt]ah teh iinnsg i gohntke,e eps on
lookaitin gt[o nl ar ergda.eT ]hej dugmednetp enodns the hypothesis. So
asn otto f orgetth em alongs ott hhaeet v wearyy,tbh emi andgce l ear, let
mes ummartihzeer:e bweot uwlhodpy oetshes.
- You seetmo f eatrh meo nocuvliasrio oftn h inWghsy.n o ats ingle
poionfvt i eWwh? yt woh ypotheses?
''Tphhirs arseep,e aotnte hdne e xttot hlea sto flt ihwneoe r kc,ab ne r eaidns everal
wayrsa,n gfirnogm its meevaenri"ynDdgoay, yo ut hisno?k, t"ot hmeo rlei te"rDaoyl o,u
beli?e,tv"oet hmeo rien credu"lDooyu osur, e ablellyi tehv?ie"Ts hep hradsoeen so hta ve
ad ireocbtj ebcuttw, e h avgei viento net oi ndictahtaiettc oulbdeu ndersatsoa o d
respotnots heee p igroartp oth hceo nversianpt rioognr- eTsrsa.n s.