Derrida Quote by Jeffrey Eugenides
““Madeline began hearing people saying "Derrida". She heard them saying "Lyotard" and "Foucault" and "Deleuze" and "Baudrillard". That most of these people were those she instinctually disapproved of- upper-middle-class kids who wore Doc Martens and anarchist symbols- made Madeline dubious about the value of their enthusiasm.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Marriage Plot”, 2011
Madeline doubts the value of intellectual enthusiasm when it appears tied to a subculture she disapproves of.
In simple terms: She questions the authenticity of certain academic trends.
Key Takeaway
Assess ideas beyond surface trends.
Themes
culture
identity
intellectualism
class
youth
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- college campuses
- literary circles
- online forums
Key Concepts
post‑modern critique
subcultural analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- Do subcultural symbols affect the credibility of ideas?
- How can one separate idea merit from its cultural packaging?
