Understanding Deconstruction: A Critical Approach

By Dr. Supriya Singh | Banaras Hindu University

Learners enrolled: 127

ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of Deconstruction Theory, tracing its origins, evolution, and relevance today. In Week 1, we will introduce the foundational principles of deconstruction theory, setting the stage for a deeper dive into Jacques Derrida's key concepts—différance, logocentrism, binary oppositions, trace, play, etc.—in Week 2. Week 3 will examine deconstruction's intersections with other philosophers, such as Paul de Man, J. Hillis Miller, Barbara Johnson, and Geoffrey Hartman. Week 4 will focus on its contemporary applications and significance in diverse fields, including literary, social, and cultural criticism, architecture, media, and environmental studies, uncovering the transformative power of deconstruction as a critical approach.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Undergraduate/ Postgraduate/ Ph.D. Students/ Early career faculty/ anyone interested in understanding the meaning and purpose of life.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Academic or Content writing, Research and Development, Journalism, Social, Cultural or advertisement industry

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	4 weeks
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences Arts
Credit Points :	1
Level :	Postgraduate
Start Date :	18 Aug 2025
End Date :	12 Sep 2025
Enrollment Ends :	18 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	29 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	25 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level	6.5 — 7.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: An Introduction to Deconstruction Theory

Week 2: Derrida and his Key Concepts

Week 3: Deconstruction and Other Philosophers

Week 4: Relevance in Contemporary Perspective

Books and references

1. Derrida, Jacques. Of Grammatology. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016.
2. Culler, Jonathan D. On Deconstruction: Theory and Criticism After Structuralism. Cornell University Press, 1983.
3. Silverman, Hugh J. Hermeneutics and Deconstruction. Northwestern University Press, 1985.
4. Atkins, G. Douglas. Reading Deconstruction/ Deconstructive Reading. Routledge, 2021.
5. McQuillan, Martin, editor. Deconstruction: A Reader. Routledge, 2001

Instructor bio

Dr. Supriya Singh

Banaras Hindu University

Dr. Supriya Singh is a faculty of English literature, committed to synchronizing theory with the pragmatic goals of education. She pursued higher education at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi. Always inclined towards research and academic engagement, she has been associated with the prestigious Vasant Kanya Mahavidyalaya (since 2012), affiliated with BHU. Her areas of interest include literary theory, films, and fiction.She is the author of two books: one, a collection of short stories titled Cheers to Life, published by an internationally recognized publishing house, and the other, an edited book titled Inculcation of Sustainable Development through Higher Education: An Overview.

Dr. Singh has had the privilege of presenting her ideas as a resource person at various seminars, conferences, and workshops. Several of her research papers have been published in national and international journals of repute. She has also delivered numerous talks on topics of contemporary relevance on the primary channel of Akashwani, All India Radio. Recently, she was humbled to receive the Malviya Smriti Samman 2024 by the Professor Harihar Nath Tripathi Foundation.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: 25 October 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 3 assignments out of the total 4 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup. It will have the logos of INI and BHU.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- INI team

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